UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS

July 1, 2008

More tolerance and compassion for people living with HIV

Jamaica has reached a very important milestone in the effort to stem the spread of HIV.  A national Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviour and Practices survey on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) conducted earlier this year has found that Jamaicans are expressing more tolerance and compassion for people living with HIV.

The survey reported attitudinal improvements in a number of areas relating to stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

▪ Nearly 83 per cent of the respondents between 15 and 49 said they would be willing to care for a family member who became sick after being infected with HIV.

▪ More than 76 per cent agreed that a female teacher who was HIV positive but not sick should be allowed to continue teaching.

▪ Over 58 per cent said they would not want to keep the HIV status of a family member secret.

These figures are a testimony to the great work being done at the community level on reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

The news, however, is not all positive. Only 23.5 per cent of respondents said they would be willing to buy fresh vegetables from an HIV-infected vendor. Though this is an improvement from when the survey was last conducted in 2004.

Stigma and discrimination have long been stubborn barriers to the effective prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS. Over the past 4 years, the Jamaican Ministry of Health along with UNICEF and other partners have vigorously stepped up efforts to counter these barriers.

These efforts include the creation of opportunities for young people living with HIV to interact with others in their age groups, showing that it is possible to live a normal life despite the infection.  These children and young people who are infected and affected by HIV also tell of experiences when they have encountered stigma and discrimination in their communities, schools and even within the health care system, and how it has affected them. In using their personal experiences, our advocates help to put a human face to HIV and remove the mystery surrounding the epidemic.

While UNICEF is buoyed by this new evidence that our work is reaping good results, we cannot rest.  This only serves to confirm that we, together with our partners, are on the right path.  Our donors as part of our tireless team can help to keep us going on this track.