A training program targets primary healthcare workers in an effort to expand community health services.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services and Gender Relations recently engaged health workers in a training program on HIV.

Senior Medical Officer for Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Alisha Deborah Eugene, said that the program involves training physicians and family nurse practitioners who work in primary healthcare to be ready to treat HIV patients.

“The aim is to have our HIV patients to be able to access care within our primary healthcare settings because we want to [improve healthcare], so making it possible for HIV patients come to our general clinics and see a doctor is something we are moving towards,” she said.

Ms. Eugene hopes the training will improve patient treatment in community healthcare as well as remove the social stigma of the disease.

"As we know, HIV is now seen as a chronic infectious disease and not the death sentence it was many years ago. We are trying to have more patients access healthcare, so if you are a patient or HIV positive, you can actually go to the regular clinics like the health centres, community hospitals or the polyclinic, and see a doctor who can treat you, give you the necessary medication and refer you if needed."

Enthusiastic about the initiative, the senior medical officer believes the program will benefit HIV patients as well as their families.