The Caribbean has the world's second highest infection rates

The advice from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), came Tuesday, on the observance of World AIDS Day.

Overall figures from the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) show that infections worldwide have fallen by 17% over the past eight years, with sub-Saharan Africa showing the most progress.

However the senior advisor at PAHO's Caribbean office, Dr Amalia del Riego, told BBC Caribbean that health officials remain concerned about the rates of infection in the region.

"Overall I think we still need to state that the HIV new infections are increasing at a rate that is of concern for this region and that the region continues to have the second highest prevalence in the world," she said.

Chances of survival

PAHO also said it will be holding consultations with Caribbean countries early next year, to discuss the implications of new guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on treatment programmes for those infected with the virus.

The WHO has said people with the disease should be given anti-retroviral drugs one to two years earlier than at present, saying that its latest research shows that this step would significantly improve chances of survival.

Dr Del Riego said the adoption of the new guidelines will not be a problem for the Caribbean.

However, she said it might not be as effective as hoped, if people with the disease don't show up earlier for treatment.

"The challenge in the Caribbean is that patients are going late to the health care facilities.

"There is a need for scaling up testing and counselling and early diagnosis of HIV so that treatment can be initiated on time and early," she said.

In terms of national guidelines, PAHO said a number of countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the Bahamas, have already begun applying the recommended new guidelines from the WHO.

Dr Del Reigo said that under the new guidelines, HIV treatment will end up being less costly as transmission rates will be lowered in the long run, while people infected with the virus will have an improved quality of life.

Stigma and discrimination

However UNAIDS remains concerned that almost 30 years after the it was discovered, the virus continues to make inroads into new populations, and stigma and discrimination undermine efforts to fight the spread.

One HIV patient from Trinidad, spoke to BBC Caribbean about the discrimination she faces.

Lorna Henry, who is married with two children, acquired the virus just before her marriage.

However, her husband and children do not have it.

Lorna has been HIV positive for nearly a decade, at one stage taking 14 tablets per day. She's now down to four.

She told BBC Caribbean's Neil Nunes how she has been coping with the virus.

Listen to Lorna's interview with Neil Nunes

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on all countries to live up to their commitment to enact or enforce legislation outlawing discrimination of people living with HIV, and members of vulnerable groups.

Effective vaccine

In his message to mark World AIDS Day, Mr Ban said discrimination against sex workers, drug users and homosexuals only fuel the epidemic.

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibe, also believes punitive laws should be scrapped.

	Mr Sidibe says punitive laws should be scrapped

"At least 80 countries have legislation prohibiting same sex behaviour.

"The criminalisation of homosexual behaviour fuels the spread of HIV, creating obstacles for men who have sex with men to access HIV prevention, treatment and support services," Mr Sidibe said.

Health officials say the impact of the AIDS response is high where HIV prevention and treatment programmes have been integrated with other health and social welfare services.

Mr Sidibe believes that an effective vaccine is the only way to truly stop the spread of the virus.

Referring to recent reports of a breakthrough in trials conducted in Thailand, he said it was too soon to announce the discovery of a vaccine, but that the momentum created by the announcement should be sustained.