Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
CLAIMING THAT more persons are ready to know their HIV/AIDS status, the National HIV/STI Control Programme in the Ministry of Health (MoH) is moving to expand and increase testing through its outreach programmes.
The MoH estimates that some 25,000 Jamaicans are living with HIV/AIDS, but 15,000 do not know their status.
"We are looking to increase and expand HIV testing, because through some of our outreach testing activities we have found that some people are really ready to know their HIV status and we want to give them as many opportunities to know it as possible," said Novia Condell, behaviour change communication officer in the MoH. "So we are looking to go into HIV testing in a big way."
NOT A DEATH SENTENCE
According to Ms. Condell, an HIV-negative result gives people the opportunity to look at some of the factors that are putting them at risk.
"We want people to understand and fully grasp that an HIV-positive result is not a death sentence," she said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Condell disclosed yesterday that the Health Ministry will be embarking on a six-month islandwide anti-stigma and anti-discrimination campaign. This campaign is set to begin in another two weeks.
The behaviour change communication officer, who said the new campaign would be innovative, explained that stigma and discrimination prevent people from getting tested and also prevent them from revealing their status to partners.
"So this media campaign is really dealing with the reality of HIV/AIDS now in the age that we have treatment available that can extend their lives for many fruitful and productive years," Ms. Condell told The Gleaner during an interview at the MoH head offices, downtown Kingston.
The campaign is made possible through a US$15 million fund from the Global Fund. Approximately 2,000 HIV-infected persons are currently on anti-retroviral drugs, made possible by the (MoH).
