Patricia Watson, Senior Staff Reporter
IT HAS been a bittersweet year for most people living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica. For the most part, many are happy to be alive, happy for the support of friends and family.
A number of persons have also found it possible to embrace people living with the disease and although some still harbour misgivings about certain groups with the disease, they have become more tolerant. But there is still a far way to go there is a great deal to be accomplished.
Today, we will listen as persons living with HIV/AIDS or working among people living with HIV speak about their hopes for 2003. They are not asking for much actually, just for you and I to be more caring and understanding.
Joan: mother of an HIV positive adolescent
"For one, I wish that society on a whole would try to understand more about people with the virus. Just give them a chance to live. People tend to be so cruel I wish those in society who do not know about it, to educate themselves, so they can be able to deal with those with HIV. I wish everybody would get to know more about the people with the disease, so we can break down the stigma and discrimination.
"I am scared for her a lot of times. I've built a fence around her, it's not a stone fence, but one of barbed wire where people can look in, but not hurt her. I have to protect her & if anyone wants to get to her, they have to go through me. We have to make people understand that it is not promiscuous people who get it. As Christians, we need to embrace people living with the disease. I just wish people's eyes would just open and love them."
Ainsley Reid: Jamaica Council of Churches, HIV-positive
"My hope is that there will exist a more enabling environment for people in general, whether you are HIV positive, homosexual, from the inner city or from uptown. Because of the trauma, the discrimination, the many beatings, stabbing and killing of people living with HIV, we need to create an environment of love.
"We should be able to walk anywhere on the road without fear and not be stigmatised. I'm really hoping that the kind of service that we need we will get it. Access to treatment, and 'I'm not only talking about medication other service is needed to supplement those who are on medicine. There is also need for a more supportive medical staff.
"We also crave a greater sense of unity to work together with people living with HIV/AIDS, journalists and politicians. It is by working together that we will be able to overcome the stigma, discrimination, shame and the spread of HIV.
"But most of all, I would want to see the church trying to educate itself about HIV. The church must make itself more accommodating to people with the disease. The church needs to really address the social issues associated with HIV. It has the capacity to do more, but the political will from the leadership is not there. The church has not consulted on the matter as a body to address the whole issue of HIV/AIDS."
Omar, President Caribbean Network of Seropositives (CASNET), HIV-positive
"First, I would like to see a further reduction in the cost of antiretrovirals (ARV). Second, anti-discrimination laws must be enforced to allow persons living with HIV to enjoy life.
"Third, more capacity building and involvement of people living with AIDS in order that they may fulfil their obligation to society and also to contribute to society.
"We should also endeavour to enact effective workplace policies on HIV. There's also need for a social programme geared towards HIV positive persons especially those who contribute to NIS."
Donavan: President Jamaica Network of Seropositives (JN+), HIV positive
"The main things for me are the issues of discrimination, treatment and the need for people who have the disease to start trying to help themselves. As a group, we need to be more proactive.
"People living with HIV/AIDS need to get more involved in the fight. In terms of treatment, it should not be just about the price of medication being reduced, but if this is not followed up, it doesn't make any sense.
"There is need for monitoring by either the Government or non-governmental organisations to ensure people are taking the medication properly. We only have one CD4 machine in the country and this is at the University hospital. People have to travel from the country to do CD4 test, which does not make much sense.
"It costs $5,000 to do the test, which many of us may not be able to afford. We do not have a viral load machine in the island as well and to get this done we have to send abroad and that is another $10,000. We have to address these problems, as it is counter-productive to have people taking medication and not knowing if the medication is making any impact.
"Care of persons is also is also integral. People need to know that there is care available. There is a feeling of hopelessness that is why people are unwilling to get tested."
Novia Condell, Behaviour Change Communications Specialist, Ministry of Health
"I hope that every Jamaican could put themselves in the shoes of someone who is positive and realise that it is a person you are dealing with and not an ailment. Second, that Jamaicans will start taking a serious look at their behaviour and realise that each of us, once we are sexually active is at risk.
"We should try to know our status, if we are negative, we should stay that way and those who test positive must know that it is not a death sentence. Third, we need to stop poisoning the minds of our children in order to stop the cycle of discrimination. We must teach them to be humane to persons living with HIV."
Names changed
