Gya: Bush funds ABC in Guyana

Guyana has benefited from a further US$21M under President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), which will be used to reduce the transmission of HIV and mitigate the impact of the disease.

Minister of Finance, Saisnarine Kowlessar, US Ambassador to Guyana, Roland Bullen and Mission Director at the US Embassy, Dr Mike Sarhan, yesterday signed an agreement in the boardroom of the Ministry of Finance. Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy was also at the signing ceremony.

The money will be used through a collaborative agreement between the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Guyana. This partnership will be working towards intensifying the ABC (Abstinence, Be Faithful, use Condoms) programme and expansion of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme to five labour and delivery sites.