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High Level Advocates call for Greater Support around HIV/AIDS Control Issues

From left: Hon. Lascelles Chin, Novia Condell, Michael Muirhead, Neville Moodie, Mayor Andrew Wheatly and Vivian Gray

The Jamaican Delegation, which visited Thailand for a HIV/AIDS Study Tour, is calling for greater action and involvement by business, political and civic leaders in all sectors to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica.

The delegation comprised Hon. Lacelles Chin, OJ, Chairman Lasco Group of Companies, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, Mayor of Spanish Town; Mr. Michael Muirhead, Executive Director of TPDCo; Mr. Neville Moodie, Director, Occupational Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Security; Ms. Novia Condell, Behaviour Change Communication Officer, Ministry of Health and Mr. Vivian Gray, Advocacy Officer, National AIDS Committee. The team arrived in Thailand on March 5 and returned to the island on March 16.

The two-week study tour aimed at exposing the delegates to best practices in advocacy and policy implementation which was a cornerstone of the successes experienced in Thailand in reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The trip comprised of a number of meetings with key individuals and organizations.

Lascelles Chin noted that the study tour served to highlight the value of a comprehensive multi sectoral response to HIV and AIDS. Against this background, Mr. Chin is calling on business leaders to take a more proactive role in the fight against the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the related stigma and discrimination.
"If every business leader says 'I will educate my staff,' that will go a far way in clarifying HIV issues and in reducing discrimination often borne out of fear and ignorance."

Mr. Chin has also called for a more "broad-minded approach" to making commercial sex work safer for sex workers and their clients. He is also calling for a revision of the health education curriculum in schools in order to better enable young people to practice safer sex.

"We need to stop sweeping it under the carpet… sex is an income earner."

Dr Andrew Wheatley, Mayor of Spanish Town pointed out that in the case of Thailand, strong leadership at the highest level of the Government created the atmosphere for change that was necessary to reduce the impact of the epidemic and bring about the subsequent reduction in new HIV infections.

"Slowing down the spread of HIV in Thailand was only possible when there was committed political leadership around the issue," he said. The Mayor has planned to undertake the task of heightening HIV/AIDS awareness among his colleagues at the local government level.

"These are the people on the ground in the communities where stigma reduction is needed. We must support interventions in our communities and at every opportunity, encourage people to embrace and accept those among us who may be infected."

Mayor Wheatley further stated that it is time for political representatives to take charge. He noted that local government officials were well placed to facilitating the reverse of the epidemic.
"Local government representatives… have the potential to impact positively because of their intimate interaction with groups who may be at the forefront of the epidemic in terms of being susceptible to the epidemic."

Meanwhile, Michael Muirhead, Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company, has described his experience on the study tour as "eye-opening and earth shattering."

Mr. Muirhead said he has returned knowing that he has to be an advocate.
"Halting the spread o f HIV/AIDS must be seen as one of Jamaica's development goals. It is for this reason that the tourism industry must undertake HIV/AIDS interventions targeting tourists and workers in the sector."

Each advocate has developed a plan of action for their respective sectors. They are aimed at increasing the involvement from stakeholders in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Jamaica HIV/AIDS Epidemic Update - 2004

In Jamaica, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has created a great burden for communities, families and individuals. In addressing this burden, there is need for improved access to care and treatment, more targeted approaches in prevention and a reduction in the stigma and discrimination that Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and their loved ones face.

An average of one thousand AIDS cases is being reported to The Ministry of Health annually.

The Ministry of Health's AIDS Report for the period January to December 2003 shows that one thousand and seventy (1070) new cases of AIDS were reported to the Ministry of Health, compared with nine hundred and eighty nine (989) in 2002, representing a marginal increase of 8.2%.
Fifty seven percent (57%) or 611 cases were male and forty three percent (43%) or 459 cases were among females.

This brings the cumulative total of AIDS cases to eight thousand and ninety seven (8097) since the beginning of the epidemic in 1982. It is estimated that there are 22,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica.

In 2003 there were 67 new cases of AIDS among children down from 81 new pediatric AIDS cases in 2002, representing a decline of 17%. This decline can be attributed to the Prevention of Mother to Child (PMTCT) Programme.

Fewer pediatric AIDS deaths were reported to the Ministry in 2003. Last year, twenty-nine (29) children were reported to have died of AIDS compared with 45 pediatric deaths in 2002. This represents a decline of 35%.

Kingston and St. Andrew remains the parish with the highest number of AIDS cases. However, the parishes of St. James, St. Ann, Hanover and St. Catherine have reported increases of more than 10% in the number of AIDS cases than for the previous year.

The National HIV/STI Control Programme continues to spearhead efforts to mitigate the impact of this disease. Last year approximately $174 million was spent to finance the fight against AIDS in Jamaica.

Prevention programmes have been scaled up to maintain the high awareness of HIV/AIDS among Jamaicans as well as to increase the capacity of individuals to accurately assess their risk for HIV infection and take the necessary steps to protect themselves. Last year, some 1.6 million condoms were procured and distributed by the National Programme.

Through the HIV/AIDS Demand Driven Sub-projects (HADDS) fund over seven million dollars has been committed to finance prevention and treatment and care projects proposed by non-governmental organizations including community and faith-based organizations.

The National Programme has also been working to strengthen the island's capacity to effectively deal with the epidemic. Through training of healthcare workers, our partners from other public sector entities, private sector members and various Non-governmental Organizations (NGO).

Through assistance from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Malaria and Tubercolosis, the National Programme is moving to increase access to treatment for infected persons.

As we grapple with the reality of HIV/AIDS, we implore Jamaicans to strive to be kinder to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Reducing the stigma and discrimination that surrounds the disease will make it easier for infected persons to live longer, more productive lives.

AIDS does not discriminate. It does not recognize social class, lifestyle or occupation. Anyone, as long as they are having sex, can become infected. Therefore, it is imperative that individuals recognize that they must reduce their risk for infection. Our young people must be reminded of their option to abstain from sex and strongly encouraged to make that choice. All sexually active persons must use a condom everytime they have sex.

Released June 10, 2004 by the
National HIV/AIDS Control Programme
Ministry of Health
Kingston, Jamaica
Tel.: (876)967-1100
AIDS/STD Helpline (876)967-3830, 967-3764
Toll Free 1-888-991-4444


Click the links below to view the corresponding statistic.

Jamaica AIDS Report - Jan. - June 2004
Jamaica AIDS Report - Jan. - Dec 2003
Jamaica AIDS Report - Jan. - June 2003


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