HIV/AIDS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN(August 2009)
The Latin America and Caribbean Region is faced with diverse HIV epidemics. There are differences in the epidemic between the two sub-regions and within each of the sub-regions. UNAIDS’s 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic estimated an adult prevalence rate of 0.5 percent in 2007 in Latin America with approximately 1.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), 140,000 newly infected and 63,000 AIDS related deaths. Unprotected sex between men is an important mode of transmission in Latin America. Sex workers and injecting drug users, to a lesser extent, are also fueling the epidemic. In the Caribbean, adult HIV prevalence was 1.1 percent in 2007, there were 230,000 PLWHA, 20,000 were newly infected and 14,000 died of AIDS. Unprotected heterosexual intercourse is the main mode of HIV transmission in the Caribbean and though there have been indications that the epidemic is stabilizing, there are population groups with very high HIV prevalence rates such as commercial sex workers and injecting drug users.
ISSUES
The high level of stigma and discrimination and especially homophobia is a major impediment to an effective response to the epidemic in the region.
While resources have been expanded to address the epidemic, prevention, care and treatment services have not been fully expanded. In Latin America and the Caribbean more than 400,000 people are now receiving treatment which is roughly 60% of those in need which represents a larger share than any other developing country, however, there is progress still to be made.
Local technical and managerial capacities especially in monitoring and evaluation are still inadequate to enable countries strengthen their programs.
Participation of non-health sectors and civil society organizations is not fully realized yet it is important for achieving the goal of universal access to prevention, treatment and care.
LENDING
The World Bank’s total HIV/AIDS commitment in the Latin America and Caribbean region is US$117.6 million: IBRD (US$78.9 million) and IDA (US$38.7 million).
Stand-alone HIV/AIDS project lending include: the Caribbean MAP (US$97.4 million), which includes two new lending operations in Jamaica (US$10 million) and Barbados (US$35 million), and Central America (US$8.0 million).
Three health projects have HIV/AIDS components: El Salvador (US$2 million), Honduras (US$5 million), and Argentina (US$5 million).
OTHER RECENT BANK TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR STRENGTHENING HIV/AIDS IN THE LAC REGION
Analytical Work
Optimizing the Allocation of Resources among HIV prevention interventions in Argentina, Honduras and Central America. (2006)
Protecting Children Affected by AIDS in the Caribbean: Recommendations for Legal Reform in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, St. Lucia and Grenada. (2006).
A Multi-Agency Review of the HIV/AIDS response in the countries and regional organization under the Caribbean Multi-Country AIDS Program. (2005)
Strengthening Strategic Planning
Technical support through the AIDS Strategic Action Planning (ASAP) team/UNAIDS to strengthening strategic plans in: Barbados, Honduras, Jamaica, Guyana, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Strengthening implementation
A Regional Workshop on strengthening implementation and strategic planning for the Caribbean HIV/AIDS MAP projects (9 country and one regional) in 2006 and regular technical support including for strengthening monitoring and evaluation.
Strengthening the multi-sectoral response
Joint partnership with UNESCO and other UN agencies, the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) Support to the initiative, “Accelerating the Education Sector Response to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean Region”.
Pilot on strengthening the Transport Sector Response
Technical support for addressing:
Legal aspects of HIV/AIDS (Guyana and CARICOM) and Disability and HIV/AIDS (region-wide).
RSS