Ocho Rios
Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
THE INTERNATIONAL Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is calling on countries of the Caribbean to take an integrated approach in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the region.
IFRC senior health officer for the Americas, Dr. Fidel Font, said at present there are over 100,000 people in the Caribbean who are infected with HIV/AIDS, and that the region has to come together and devise a more effective approach to deal with the problem.
Dr. Font was guest speaker at the opening ceremony of the fifth annual general meeting of Red Cross Caribbean AIDS Network (CARAN) at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Resort, in Ocho Rios on Tuesday.
AFFECTED
He pointed out that already there are seven countries in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, that have been classified in the high prevalence group and that this is of much concern to the organisation. Among other countries showing over 1 per cent of their population affected with AIDS are Belize, Guyana, Surinam, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Dr. Font said while HIV/AIDS is now a critical health problem throughout the world, the disease has also become a serious social, economical, and cultural problem, and hence the need for it to be fought with an integrated approach from all angles.
He said it is clear to all that there is a great demand for affordable anti-aids drug and that the IFRC will be moving in that direction to try and assist those in need. "We are going for this drug...its accessibility for all the people... the people need the drug now," he added.
Dr. Font said the Red Cross will still continue on the lines that it has been working since the establishment of CARAN five years ago, which is through advocacy, early intervention and fighting against the stigma and discrimination.
He said the Red Cross will also ensure that counselling is provided for those who have tested positive and that they will have access to drugs.
The conference which ends on Friday is being attended by delegates from over 16 countries in the Caribbean who will be discussing various methods that will lead to the establishment of a plan of actions to effectively tackle the problem of AIDS in the region.
Vice-president of the Jamaica Red Cross Society, Winston Smith, in his greetings said HIV/AIDS represents a serious threat to nation building and that every support is needed to control the spread of the disease.
