Charlie E. Jones, Contributor
THE ISLAND'S western region is unfortunately the section with the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases. The latest figures released by the Ministry of Health showed St. James holding the unenviable top spot, as the parish with the most cases of persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Hanover, is third behind Kingston and St. Andrew followed by St. Ann, Trelawny and Westmoreland.
Why is this so?
There seems to be a direct link with the tourism industry. Yet, no study to date has conclusively established this link. There is also the socio-economic indicator, which shows that a large number of people living with HIV are poor and uneducated.
Sadly, these figures show that our young women in the age range 15-34 years are extremely prone to the deadly disease. Hence, the United Nations turning its focus over the next two years to 'Girls, Women HIV and AIDS'.
EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS
Every parish in the west, every church member, every business enterprise, every teacher, every student, every parent, need to stop, look, learn and act because the nature of the disease makes it everybody's business. We all have to come together and figure a way to find the root cause of the concentration of the disease in the west and stop the stem now.
AIDS is not confined to the homosexual community, it is not a prostitute sickness ... they are not the only ones who are dying. It is our children, our wives, our girlfriends, our church sisters and brothers and yes, our pastors, their wives, the policeman and someone close to you, who died from a 'mystery' illness.
December 1 was only the beginning of the AIDS Awareness Day Campaign. Let each one of us pledge to get ourselves tested before Christmas. Young people should abstain from sexual intercourse for as possible; those who can't, protect yourselves. Condoms are available for men and women. Each week, 11 to 16 persons die of AIDS in Jamaica. Let us put a dent in those statistics.
