Access to HIV Services for Mobile and Migrant Populations in Antigua

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has given its support to the HIV and AIDS work in
Antigua by providing funding for supplies, training, etc., mostly through the Ministry of Health
and specifically through the AIDS Secretariat office.
However Kempadoo (2010) reports that the Antigua law states free service, but there is
“discrimination against non-nationals”. In the Antigua health care system migrant workers
have no benefits or social security. “The public care system is already overburdened”.
Kempadoo (2010) states that “ Despite the proliferation of organizations and agencies in recent
years that work with sex workers and other vulnerable populations, it appeared that many operate
in isolation or with suspicion about each other’s work, rather than interact with, sex workers.
This results in poor knowledge about the sex industry as a whole and can generate suspicion and
resentment among those supposedly being helped and lead to ineffective or wasteful
interventions. A greater coordination of efforts and funding, and a sharing of information
between NGOs, CBOs, INGOs and government authorities on the issue of the sex industry, at
both national and CARICOM levels, would enhance any work being undertaken in this area.
AIDS Secretariat
The AIDS Secretariat is the arm of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda that has been given
the responsibility to provide information to the nation concerning HIV and AIDS, education and
testing. They refer Persons living with HIV to the Clinical Care coordinator for ART.
Medication is also provided for opportunistic infections and free consultation is given to persons
infected with HIV for dental care, eye care, skin care, etc.
In 2008, 340 persons identified as MARPS (members of the MSM, SW and adolescent
population) were tested which was 0.43% of the tested population. In 2009, it went up to 2476
MARPS, which was 3.1% of the total tested population.
The NAP office provides training in Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and Provider
Initiated Testing and Counseling (PITC) to members of social services agencies, healthcare
workers, etc., and they also offer training sessions and support directly to the most at risk
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