Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

HIV/AIDS in Guyana

Guyana has a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic. The major exposure category for HIV infection in Guyana is heterosexual contact, accounting for more than 80% of all cases. The most current data show an annual increase in HIV/AIDS-related deaths, and HIV-related illness is currently the leading cause of death among persons 15-44 years old. Although the epidemic is generalized, select high-risk subpopulations in Guyana are disproportionately affected. Guyana has the fourth highest tuberculosis (TB) incidence rates in the Americas. An estimated 25-30% of all newly diagnosed patients are co-infected with HIV.

CDC HIV/AIDS Activities in Guyana

Prevention:

• Collaborating with the National Blood Transfusion Service, Pan American Health Organization, and the Guyana medical community to improve the safety of the nation's blood supply and institutionalize blood banking systems and transfusion practices.
• Supporting a behavior change project based on role modeling that includes a radio serial drama, community reinforcement activities, and life skills modules in public secondary schools.
• Supporting the Ministry of Health in maintaining the national HIV website..

Care and Treatment:

• Supporting services for TB/HIV patients by collaborating with partners to support the Guyana National TB Control Program, which provides care and treatment for all TB patients through six clinics operating in the more populous regions of Guyana.
• Helping the Government of Guyana with its goal of national access to prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services. This expansion of services will be facilitated through collaboration with USAID, the Ministry of Health, regional and district health authorities, health facility staff, people living with HIV/AIDS, and other community stakeholders.
• Strengthening the infrastructure of labor and delivery wards at the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation and other regional hospitals.
• Strengthening the Ministry of Health's capacity to monitor and evaluate the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission program.
• Facilitating referrals to ART services.
• Supporting treatment services in all of Guyana's 10 ART sites and providing crucial human resource and technical support to the national AIDS program.

Laboratory, Strategic Information, and Other Capacity Building:

• Coordinating with the Department of State in establishment of the new National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL). The NPHRL will provide reference laboratory capacity in Guyana and serve as a base for improving laboratory services throughout the health system and the region.