Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke (right) presents the Proclamation of World AIDS Day 2005 to Dr. Peter Figueroa, chief of epidemiology and HIV/AIDS in the Ministry of Health, during the Proclamation of World Aids Day 2005 and launch of activities at King's House yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
DR. PETER Figueroa, chief of epidemiology and HIV/AIDS in the Ministry of Health, says intense lobbying is under way for legislative changes to discontinue HIV/AIDS screening for persons seeking employment and other matters.
According to Dr. Figueroa, persons with the virus should not be discriminated against because of their status.
GET TESTED FOR HIV/AIDS
"At the same time, we are encouraging persons to get tested for HIV/AIDS, so we have to find a way to provide an appropriate legislative framework for persons to get tested, but at the same time, be tested in an environment where confidentiality and privacy are maintained," he said.
Dr. Figueroa was speaking yesterday at the proclamation and launch of World AIDS Day 2005.
Between January and March of this year, 13 persons died of AIDS each week in Jamaica and, according to recent surveys, 45 per cent of all newly-reported HIV/AIDS cases in the island are among persons aged 25-39 years.
World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 each year.
