Mrs. Noelene Levons-Clarke told the 2012 Standing Finance Committee members that between 1985 and 2011 there has been 99 cases of HIV/AIDS reported in the Virgin Islands, with 35 deaths. It can be higher but that is only what is reported to Government. Two babies were also born with HIV/AIDS with one already dead.

Mrs. Levons-Clarke said that of the 64 there could be uncertainty as some may have moved from one country to another. She additionally stated that of the 64 persons that may be alive, there were 27 persons who accessed care and treatment in country, whether in the public or private sectors.

Mrs. Levons-Clarke told the body that 14 persons saw doctors at the public chronic disease clinic and 13 persons saw doctors within the private sector. The AIDS Coordinator told the select committee that anti-retroviral medication was available. She further stated that 5 women, who were HIV infected, gave birth to babies and of the 5 babies, 3 tested negative for HIV up until now and two gave birth to HIV infected babies. One of those babies died and the other was still under-going treatment.

She stated that up until 2007, there were 68 new cases of HIV; in 2008 there were 9 new cases; in 2009 there were 9 news cases; in 2010 there were 7 news cases and in 2011 there were 6 new cases so it appears that the amount of cases which was not only locally but globally, cannot be guaranteed if the majority of the population was not tested. In light of that, she said the National AIDS Programme was very diligent in promoting HIV testing so persons were aware of their status and got the help that they needed.

Mrs. Levons-Clarke also informed the body that most persons tested late with the majority being male who only tested when they felt sick and were about to die. She urged the public to get tested early so that they can prevent contracting AIDS or dying from AIDS related illnesses. The Coordinator told the members that AIDS cannot be cured and what basically happened was that the symptoms which occurred in relation to the viral infection would be treated.

The member from the Fifth District Hon. Delores Christopher enquired whether there were any cases in the Virgin Islands where children are living with the virus. The NAC stated that there was none known at that time. She also stated that there was one teenager, the first baby that was born died and the second baby is still alive. Hon. Christopher asked whether there were other children who had the virus. The NAC stated that there were no records of anyone younger than 20 years separate and apart from the infant that was mentioned.

Mrs. Levons-Clarke also told the SFC that there are HIV rapid test kits where persons can know their HIV status within 20 minutes and the tests were 99.6% accurate. She further stated that campaigns were done such as Regional Testing Day with other Caribbean countries where persons were encouraged to come into Scotia Bank to access testing. She stated that additionally, testing was offered to churches, businesses and some accepted that where staff had been tested and person’s information was kept confidential.

The representative for the Third District Julian Fraser RA, enquired whether patients with the virus are seen by appointments as a group or would they go with persons with other chronic diseases. To this the NAC replied that persons with HIV/AIDS who sought clinicians in the public sector were given appointments for them alone and so that they are prevented from meeting anyone else so two would be scheduled for the day one in the morning and one in the afternoon so that they would not know the identity of each other.

She said in the private sector it was different because everyone accessed care based on appointments.