Saint Lucia commemorates World AIDS Day with commitment to strengthen AIDS response

On December 1st, Saint Lucia joins the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day. This year, there was a call for countries to acknowledge the challenges that persist while recommitting to bold, transformative action to end AIDS as a public health threat. In 2024 in Saint Lucia, 35 new HIV infections were recorded, and to date in 2025, 17 new cases have been documented—figures that will continue to evolve as surveillance improves. AIDS-related deaths have steadily declined, from 21 deaths in 2005, to 16 in 2023, 11 in 2024, and 5 thus far in 2025. Saint Lucia has made significant strides in its AIDS response in areas such as relocation of Sexual and Reproductive Clinic, resumption of viral load testing, ongoing works to restore access to CD4 testing, scale up training for rapid HIV and syphilis testers, enhance capacity in STI management and maintaining reliable antiretroviral therapy stocks, to name a few.