Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Stop HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination – Dr. Tufton
#Kingston, May 14, 2019 – Jamaica – Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is calling for elimination of the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS in order to stem the spread of the virus.
His appeal comes in light of the findings of the 2017 HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour and Practice (KABP) survey, which not only indicated that accepting attitudes towards persons living with HIV/AIDS remained low, but declined from 14.3 per cent in 2012, when the last survey was done, to 11.6 per cent in 2017.
The survey, conducted by Hope Research Group, sampled 2,000 persons aged 15-49. The findings were revealed at a function at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa in St. Andrew on May 9. Among the questions posed was a willingness to purchase fresh vegetables from a vendor known to be HIV-positive, which is a common measure of discriminatory attitude used in population-based surveys.
The research indicated that only 23.7 per cent of persons, 15-49 years old, either agreed or strongly agreed that they were willing to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from a HIV-positive vendor.
Dr. Tufton argued that it is this fear of stigma and rejection that contributes to a delay in persons accessing HIV care.
“Persons, who may have signs and symptoms or who know their status, are unwilling to turn up at the hospitals or the clinics to be treated… hence increasing their risks,” he pointed out.
In emphasising his point, the Minister cited the case of an actress in a local HIV education commercial, who was branded as being an HIV patient.
“It really highlights the challenges we face in our society…We have to change that mindset…Let’s stop the discrimination,” he stressed.
The Health and Wellness Minister pointed to the 2017 United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS report on confronting discrimination, which noted that people living with HIV who perceive high levels of HIV-related stigma were 2.4 times more likely to present late for care.
“Part of what is coming out of the analysis is that a big part of the treatment and viral suppression and the failure to achieve higher targets is linked directly to the stigma issue. It is not unique to HIV; we are struggling as a society with mental illness and stigma also, where persons who are perceived to be mentally challenged are abandoned because they are “mad” and not curable,” he said.
Turning to other findings in the survey, Minister Tufton said there was an increase in multiple partner relationships among persons 15 to 24 years old.
“Some 65 per cent of persons reported having multiple partner relationships in 2017 compared to 58.1 per cent in 2012… . Having multiple sex partners increases the risk of sexually transmitted infection (STI), including HIV,” he noted.
He said the survey also indicated that knowledge of HIV transmission has declined when compared to 2012.
“The 2017 survey tells us that among the cohort of persons, ages 15 to 24, only 32.9 per cent were able to correctly identify ways of preventing transmission –which is 100 per cent condom use and one faithful partner – while rejecting major misconceptions in terms of transmission and prevention. There is a challenge there because a lot of persons still buy into some of these misconceptions,” he noted.
He added that this represents a decline in correct knowledge over 2012 among males and females, and more so females.
Dr. Tufton said the research is critical as it will inform the Ministry’s HIV-prevention and treatment programmes and interventions.
Release: JIS
Contact: Chris Patterson
Photo Caption: Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.
Donald De La Haye Photo
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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