MANY PEOPLE are living with HIV in Barbados, but we may never know the precise number since not everyone will get tested to know their status. This presents a problem in the fight against this disease, which we now know we can overcome.
It was in 1981 when the world became aware of a mysterious and deadly infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus that seemed to affect a small group of gay men in the United States.
It has gone on to become a pandemic that has also affected heterosexuals and resulted in about 30 million deaths, the vast majority in developing nations. Thankfully, scientists have been able to develop various drug regimes to suppress the virus, allowing those infected and with access to treatment to live relatively long and healthy lives.
This country has recorded some impressive successes in the fight to stem this disease as we join with the rest of the world to end AIDS, the last stage of HIV infection, by 2030 – a goal that some regard as ambitious.
But it is achievable once we do all the right things, especially getting past the misconceptions that HIV is a homosexual disease or the result of sinful actions.
The real issue is the fear of being tested and knowing your status, especially if it is positive. Fear and, more importantly, discrimination are genuine concerns.
Hopefully, the presence of Prince Harry and his involvement in today’s HIV prevention campaign will have a positive impact. He inspired millions of people when he opted to do the HIV test and confessed to being nervous before having his finger pricked. Because of his actions, there was a subsequent surge in HIV testing across Britain.
We need not only Prince Harry, but other high-profile, respected men and women regardless of colour, class or creed to get on board in the effort to fight HIV and ignorance.
The figures relating to HIV are pointing to a serious fact – men are by far the dominant group with the disease. Unfortunately, as is the case with other illnesses, men are generally reluctant to seek medical care. They are also more willing to persist with risky sexual behaviour. This needs to stop since we cannot afford to expose our adolescent girls and young women to unnecessary risks.
The Barbados HIV/AIDS Project has recorded some tremendous successes and we must not let up moving forward to curtail prevention, and enhance treatment and care.
This is why the National HIV/AIDS Commission, with the help of community-based organisations, must not relent in the efforts to promote behavioural change. At the same time, one of the realities we face in Barbados, and indeed the wider Caribbean, is to ensure sustained financial and political support for the HIV cause. We must be united in doing the right things.
Ending this most devastating disease of our time is paramount.