Principal Recipient (PR): Ministry of Health and Wellness (HIV/STI/TB Unit)
Unit Grant Number: JAM-H-MOH
Title of Program: SUPPORT TO THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS RESPONSE IN JAMAICA
Period covered by the audits: January 01, 2020 – December 31, 2020 AND January 01, 2021 – December 31, 2021
1. Program background, audit structure and description of entities
1.1 Program Background:
With an estimated 32,617 persons living with HIV in Jamaica, as at the end of 2019, we have diagnosed approximately 27,335 persons living with the virus. Of this number, 14,297 persons are on anti-retroviral medication with 9,283 persons being virally suppressed. HIV prevalence among Jamaica’s adult population (15-49 years) is 1.5%. The most affected populations are Transgender Women (TGW), with an HIV prevalence of 51%, Men who have sex with men (MSM), with an HIV prevalence of 29.6%, Homeless Persons, with an HIV prevalence of 13.8%, Inmates, with an HIV prevalence of 6.9% and Female sex workers (FSW), with an HIV prevalence of 2.0%. Vulnerable populations include Persons with Disabilities, Adolescents, Women and STI Clinic Attendees.
The 2017 KABP study found approximately 54.8% of persons reported having an HIV test done in the past 12 months which offers a notable decrease in comparison to the 2012 study which stood at 59.1% of respondent being tested in the past 12 months. According to the 2017 FSW Study 67% of participants, including street sex workers, other sex workers, dancers and patrons, reported using condoms at their last paid sexual encounter.
Adverse effects among key population and vulnerable groups include; Intimate partner violence among women, 15-49 years, in partnered relationships with an estimated 14.8% based on women reporting (2017 KABP Study), almost one-quarter (22.7%) of Sex Workers reporting incidences of rape (2017 FSW Study), high levels of stigma, discrimination, and indicators of unmet mental health needs (2019 MSM/TG Study) and a combined 34.3% of HIV positive inmates responding as having been denied health care.
The 2019-2021 Global Fund allocation for Jamaica has declined from US$15.2 million from the previous allocation to US$9.9 million. Additionally, Jamaica was selected to receive catalytic funding for a total of US$1.1 million for key populations and US$1 million for human rights. The Government of Jamaica has made considerable progress towards funding its treatment costs. While continue increasing the domestic investment on treatment, it also plan to progressively absorb commodities, testing supplies and psychosocial human resources.