New HIV infections in the Caribbean remain unacceptably high, with approximately 15,000 new cases recorded each year — one in four of them among young people aged 15 to 24. According to Antigua Observer, this stark reality was at the centre of a call to action delivered by a senior regional health official.
Honourable Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health of Guyana, who serves as both Chair of the PANCAP Executive Board and Chair of the CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), delivered the message, urging regional leaders and stakeholders to prioritise innovation, equity, and sustainable financing in the Caribbean's response to the HIV epidemic.
Dr. Anthony's remarks underscore growing concern among regional health authorities that progress in combating HIV across the Caribbean is insufficient, particularly among youth. The data highlighting that a quarter of all new infections occur in the 15–24 age group points to urgent gaps in prevention, education, and access to care for younger populations.
The call for enhanced financing reflects ongoing challenges faced by Caribbean nations in sustaining HIV programmes, many of which depend heavily on external funding sources. Regional officials have increasingly stressed the need for domestic investment and innovative funding mechanisms to ensure the long-term viability of these critical health initiatives.
Equity also featured prominently in Dr. Anthony's address, with the COHSOD Chair emphasising that the HIV response must reach the most vulnerable and marginalised communities across the region if meaningful progress is to be achieved.
