Friday, September 14 2012

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago spends about US$1,800 per year to treat one person affected with HIV/AIDS, according to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Rodger Samuel.

He also disclosed that the treatment of persons affected with HIV/AIDS has been estimated at a cost of $1.75 B (TT) or 1.25 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually.

Samuel was the feature speaker at yesterday’s Community Outreach Programme on Harris Promenade, San Fernando. The event which began at 10 am was hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister.

Samuel told his audience that although life goes on, HIV/AIDs is something that “we as a nation must deal with.” He warned that the nation could face “tremendous difficulty” if it does not become responsible.

He identified persons between the ages of 15 - 30 as those most at risk.

“HIV has been able to cripple some folks when they are most productive,” he further said.

“HIV has been able to cripple folks in the times when they are most productive to a nation. If we we do not do something, we will find ourselves in tremendous difficulty.”

Recent statistics at the end of 2011 indicate that over 23,000 new HIV infections have been diagnosed since the beginning of the epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago, Samuel said.

In addition, there have been over 4,000 deaths attributed to AIDS, potential lives lost to the epidemic. We have got to change the way we think, and we must become a far more responsible society.”

Similar concerns were also expressed yesterday by other stakeholders in the fight against the spread of the disease.