Henry-Wilson and Junor THE GOVERNMENT is to mount a more vigorous public education and mobilisation campaign to be spearheaded by public officials, including Government Ministers, aimed at stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Information, said the initiative, which was being co-ordinated by the Ministry of Health, came against the background of the growing number of HIV/AIDS cases in Jamaica.
She said the disease, for which there is no known cure, had reached epidemic proportions locally with the Caribbean having the second highest rate of infection and the highest in the Americas. Only sub-Saharan Africa with more than 25 million cases ranked ahead of the region.
The Information Minister said at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House that 40 out of every 1,000 Jamaicans were infected with the virus. The Gleaner could not confirm the figure with the Health Ministry as officials, including Dr. Yitades Gebre, director of the Ministry's HIV/STD programme, were not available.
However, a source who did not wished to be named said the Ministry had not provided any new figures other than its estimated 10,000 to 15,000 persons living with the HIV virus.
The Minister said the decision to mount the campaign was made following a report to Cabinet by the Human Resources Council. The report was based on a submission from Health Minister John Junor.
Mrs. Henry-Wilson said the approach to be adopted during the campaign was similar to that used in Uganda, one of the country's hardest hit by the disease. Reports are that Uganda was now "coming to terms" with the disease in an effective way. The critical factor identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), according to Mrs Henry-Wilson, was Government support for the programme, with members of the ruling party speaking publicly about the dangers of the epidemic.
The Ministry of Health has been mandated to bring a full programme which would involve members of the political directorate and other public opinion makers. The approach will be community-based targeting schools, youth clubs and other such groups.
The total number of HIV/AIDS cases recorded in Jamaica up to September 2000 was 4,786. According to figures released by the Health Ministry in February, the country's rate of HIV infection showed a marginal increase in 2000 when compared to 1999. The trend points to a faster rate of infection in women, but men over age 50 had a 2.5 times higher risk of infection than women in the same age group. The age group 30 to 39 made up the majority of AIDS cases locally - 35 per cent.
