Health ministry sets new course for HIV response

The Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) has launched Jamaica’s National Strategic Plan for HIV (2023 to 2030), a move intended to strengthen the national response and chart a clear path towards reducing new HIV infections by 40 per cent by the end of the decade.

Delivering the keynote address at Monday’s ceremony to mark the occassion, Minister of State Krystal Lee stressed that the new plan provides a decisive framework for achieving epidemic control.

“Our prevalence rate stands at around 1.1 per cent and an estimated 28,000 people are living with HIV. Our response, then, must be broader and more impactful than ever before. The vision is for a Jamaica free of new HIV infections and AIDS. This National Strategic Plan is grounded in shared responsibility, human rights, and sustainability,” Lee said.

Jamaica has registered meaningful gains over the past decade: a 35 per cent decline in new HIV infections since 2010; high levels of HIV status awareness; and, in 2024, the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. But gaps remain. High levels of adolescent sexual activity, along with persistent stigma and discrimination, continue to challenge service delivery and undermine prevention efforts.

In outlining the Government’s next steps, Lee emphasised a sharper focus on proven prevention measures. “We will scale the prevention tools that work: condoms, targeted outreach, HIV testing and self-testing, post-exposure prophylaxis, and pre-exposure prophylaxis for those at substantial risk,” she noted, underscoring the human impact of sustained public health action.

The launch of the National Strategic Plan also sets the stage for Safer Sex Week 2026, being observed under the theme ‘Tek Charge: Safer Sex with Endless Possibilities!’ The ministry is urging Jamaicans to ‘Tek Charge’ by making informed decisions, protecting themselves and their partners, and contributing to a healthier, more resilient population.

Individuals are encouraged to use condoms consistently and correctly, know their HIV status through regular testing, and limit the number of sexual partners. Adolescents are further advised to delay sexual debut. Members of the public are also being urged to seek accurate information from trusted health sources and to access prevention, treatment, and counselling services early.