GARETH THOMAS, the United Kingdom's Minister for International Development, has called on political, faith and community leaders in Jamaica to join forces and campaign to change negative attitudes towards those living with HIV/AIDS.
Mr. Thomas, who arrived on Tuesday and is leaving today, also paid tribute to those working in the National AIDS Programme, NGOs and faith-based groups while meeting members from the Jamaica Network of Seropositives (JN+), a self-support group of persons living with HIV or AIDS.
"The fight against prejudice and ignorance can at times be as important as the battle against HIV/AIDS itself. Being made to feel like outcasts is stopping people getting the help they need," he said.
Added Mr. Thomas: "The tragedy is that money and drugs are available, but people are afraid to come forward because they are more frightened by the popular reaction to HIV/AIDS. The U.K. is working with faith-based groups, NGOs and the Government of Jamaica to encourage people that they should hate the disease not those living with it."
Experts are now agreed that stigma and discrimination are the driving force behind the spread of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica, and the rest of the Caribbean. Persons living with HIV and with AIDS are afraid to come forward for treatment and care, because they face the indignities of alienation and ridicule.
Members of the Jamaica Network of Seropositives told Mr. Thomas about the stigma and discrimination they face every day and how it left them feeling excluded from their communities and sometimes their own family.
NOT A 'GAY DISEASE'
Mr. Thomas noted that in Jamaica, HIV/AIDS was spread primarily through heterosexual sex "but is commonly and mistakenly viewed as a 'gay disease'."
He added: "Within the Jamaican gay community, homophobia is a key part of the problem of HIV/AIDS spread as the added discrimination against homosexuals discourages many from seeking advice about prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. There are also particular problems with some rap and reggae music which include lyrics inciting violence against gays."
