Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The location of Falmouth, nestled between the tourist resort towns of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, is said to be creating a problem for the Trelawny health authorities as far as migration and sexual behavioural change are concerned.
According to Dr. Marcia Brown-Johnson, the medical officer of health for Trelawny, the challenge comes from the fact that sometimes persons who leave the parish to work in the neighbouring resort towns become infected with the dreaded HIV virus that causes AIDS.
High-risk group
"Some persons leave their communities to work/live in these tourist resort areas; some become a part of the high-risk group, get infected and then return to their original communities," said Dr. Brown-Johnson. "There are also those who know their status but leave their parishes for fear of discrimination and go to another parish, while there are those who refuse to accept their status and continue to have unprotected sex."
In a bid to create awareness of the dangers of the HIV/AIDS virus, Dr. Brown-Johnson said the health education team and the Trelawny AIDS Committee have been working together to increase awareness of the disease in the parish.
"We are seeing some positive signs and a lot more work is required, but the important thing is for everyone is to get tested," said Dr. Brown-Johnson. "If you are positive and you don't know your status, you will be endangering the life of others if you don't practise safe sex, but if you come forward, and the results are positive, we have a solid support programme which can improve your quality and length of life."
