HIV/AIDS a major threat to Caribbean society
Notwithstanding the damning
CCHD report, Dr Douglas is
"hopeful"
by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Senior Regional Correspondent
E-mail: rc@caribbeannetnews.com
Friday, July 8, 2005
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: According to a
special report from the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development (CCHD),
a copy of which has been obtained by Caribbean Net News, it is
estimated that there are approximately half a million people living with
HIV/AIDS in the wider Caribbean and 20 percent of these live in CARICOM member
countries. The report goes on to state that,
given the current rate of infection, the figure is projected to be 672,000
come the close of 2009, and during the next five years, AIDS will kill a
quarter of a million people in the Caribbean if the epidemic continues
unchecked, the frightening report says.
In fact, in addressing the opening ceremony
of the 26th Conference, Dominica's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, reminded
the audience that the greatest threat to the Caribbean is the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, adding that the leaders and people of the Caribbean have the "
unenviable task to turn around our reputation of having the highest incidence
of the virus in the world, second to Sub-Sahara Africa."
Mr Skerrit cautioned that a concerted regional effort is needed in order to
"stave off" disaster.
Meanwhile, a release from the St Kitts and
Nevis government states that Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas gave what is
referred to as a detailed report on the status of HIV/AIDS and other
health-related issues in the Caribbean at the recently concluded 26th
Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
According to the release, "In what colleague-Heads regarded as a rather
detailed and thorough exposition of his stewardship as the regional spokesman
on health matters,” Prime Minister Douglas informed the meeting that he was
now more hopeful and satisfied that his colleagues had demonstrated their
cognizance of the critical role of health in the economic development of the
Caribbean. However, a great many HIV/AIDS
workers across the region have been expressing grave concern over the state of
the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region. "Our
people are not taking this matter as serious as they should and this only
adding fuel to the fire."
Another major problem for workers is the
stigma now attached to the illness as new efforts and strategies must now be
put in place to combat the stigma, which is creating havoc as reported to
Caribbean Net News by one worker following a conference in St. Kitts last
year.
“...this stigma thing is really creating
havoc right here in the Caribbean. People do not even want to go to be tested
because of the fear of being labelled. Even in our own health system where you
expect people to be more level headed, the stigma is having an adverse
effect." Observers say it remains to be seen
whether regional politicians will recognise the potential for economic
disaster in the region that will be brought about by the loss of a quarter of
a million productive lives, on the basis of the CCHD estimate.
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