THE AIDS epidemic in Jamaica continues to grow with an average of three new AIDS cases reported every day. With an estimated 25,000 Jamaicans living with HIV, there is now no community or workplace that is not affected by HIV/AIDS. What is startling is that as many as 15,000 persons who are living with HIV are not aware that they are infected.

Thus, the focus for World AIDS Day of encouraging persons to get tested in order to know their HIV status is timely and appropriate. Persons who tested negative have an incentive to reduce their risk behaviour and practise safer sex and remain HIV-free. Persons who tested positive can access counselling and treatment early and maintain a healthy and productive life for years.

Much has been done to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic over the past 20 years, including public education campaigns, increased condom use, availability of anti-retroviral therapy for persons with AIDS, and reduced HIV transmission from mother to child. These are significant achievements for which the Government and the National HIV/STI Programme must be commended.

On the other hand, it must be reason for concern that the AIDS epidemic continues to grow. This is related to a failure of individuals to exercise greater care in their behaviour, as well as our leaders failing to adequately address a number of sensitive social issues which fuel the HIV epidemic and which the Government and society find difficult to face. For instance, sexual activity begins at an early age, especially among schoolchildren, but there is an inadequate sex education programme in schools. Commercial sex is widespread, with nine per cent of sex workers being HIV-positive and 20 per cent of persons with AIDS reporting commercial sex. Yet, no serious consideration is being given to regulating commercial sex and insisting on condom use in the sex trade.

Men who have sex with men are particularly at risk of HIV infection. The strong social stigma against homosexuals drives many of them into sexual relations with women in order to disguise their sexual orientation. Many Jamaicans are socially vulnerable to HIV owing to poverty, illiteracy, gender inequity, stereotypical gender roles, and deeply ingrained sexual patterns and cultural practices.