The new way of dealing with HIV/AIDS is not only to tell people to use a condom but to address the secondary factors, including gender inequality and violence, says Dr. Mukesh Kapila, special representative of the Secretary General (HIV), International Federation of Red Cross.

Speaking yesterday at a Global Alliance on HIV Programme press conference, Dr. Kapila said while there has been economic progress in the Caribbean, it remains the most unequal region in the world. He noted that the social attitudes that create inequality are also the social attitudes that generate inequality.

Gender equality

"The success of the efforts against HIV will ultimately be dictated on the issues of gender equality," he told the gathering at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston.

Dr. Kapila added: "If we are going to create a more gender-equal world, then I think efforts against HIV are much more logically successful and ultimately (the) epidemic would be at a lower level."

He also noted that violence and migration, including forced migration, could affect the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Kapila said HIV/AIDS was not a death sentence but technologies and treatment alone are not going to address the problem, adding that more emphasis has to be placed on primary prevention.

The Global Alliance on HIV Programme, which was launched on World AIDS Day last year and is gradually being rolled out across the region, is an enabling framework to mobilise capacities and resources to provide harmonised effective support to the Red Cross 185 National Societies for the achievement of their HIV programmes.