Tracey-Ann Wisdom, Gleaner Writer

Christopher Williams loves to help people. The 36-year-old is currently the primary caregiver for a young family friend, who was seriously injured in a car accident two years ago. Despite having three children of his own, the youngest of whom lives with him, he says it is no problemassisting the 16-year-old girl whom he says is like a daughter to him. He is also not fazed by the rumours that she is in fact his child or that he was having a relationship with her mother.

"I don't make what people say bother me," he says matter-of-factly. "I jus try to help her out."

Good idea

It is this same desire to help others that has led him to participate in one of the two HIV vaccine trials currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Health, and administered by the Epidemiology Research and Training Unit (ERTU), on Slipe Pen Road, in St. Andrew. He is one of 24 volunteers in Protocol 204, a phase two clinical trial in which the safety and efficiency of the vaccine are tested.

Mr. Williams, who was enrolled in the study last August, decided to get involved in the trials because he thinks it is a "very good idea".

"I have my kids coming up, and with this disease (AIDS) going around, I want to find out if there is a cure for it," he says. The reality of HIV/AIDS also hit close to home, as Mr. Williams has lost three friends to the disease, since 2000.

Having been informed of the trials by another friend, he decided to find out as much about it as possible, so he came to the ERTU ready to learn.

"I asked a lot of questions, like 'is it safe?'," he says. "They said they got (good) results from testing (the previous vaccine). There are two (shots). One is a placebo, just like water or something. I don't know which one I got, but I didn't worry about that. At the end of the trial, I would just like to know what is the outcome."

The staff also played a major role in his decision to participate in the study and his determination to see it through. He described the staff at the ERTU as "decent people".

"You can sit and talk to them. I have a lot of confidence in the nurses and doctors, especially Dr. (Taneisha) McGhie," he says.

Negative reactions

Mr. Williams says he maintains close contact with Dr. McGhie, the research clinician for the trials, and that he comes to the unit not only for his check-ups, but to get any more information he can. He also tries to encourage members of his West Kingston community to learn about the vaccine trials so that when the next one begins later this year, they can volunteer.

"When I tried to get people to participate, they resist. Two or three person say they are giving me HIV to spread." he says with a laugh.

Despite these negative reactions, Mr. Williams is undaunted. "I tell people in and out of my community to give it a try. Some say they will give it a try, they will keep it in mind. Some say they are afraid of needle and so, and some ask me if I'm crazy," he says.

Mr. Williams is hoping that the vaccine works for several reasons, especially because young people in his neighbourhood are at high risk of contracting HIV. He is also concerned that this type of behaviour could affect his children in the future.

"A lot of young girls in my community are having unprotected sex. Sometimes you hear that John Tom have AIDS an deh a hospital a name out who an who him have sex with. It hurt me a lot," he says.

In his resolution to help in any way possible, Mr. Williams also says he would be willing to participate in a public education campaign if necessary, even if it involves showing himself in the media. He is not afraid of people seeing and recognising him and has no fear of what people think about him or his actions, he declares, because he is not the type to start something and leave it unfinished. Instead, he is looking at the bigger picture. "I am participating in something that can save not only Jamaica, but the world," he said. "I hope one day they find this cure. I might not be around when they find it, but I hope they do."

Potential volunteers for the trials must be HIV-negative and in good health otherwise, between the ages of 18 and 60, and willing to spend a year or more in a follow-up study after receiving the vaccine shots. Upon selection, they also receive counselling and are encouraged to practise safe sex. Volunteers also have to sign an informed consent form, which protects their privacy. During the first six months of the trial, volunteers go to the ERTU about eight times. After the vaccination schedule has been completed, they should visit the clinic at the Vaccine Trials Unit for regular follow-ups.

"Participants are free to come in at any time," Joy Braham, coordinator of the study said. She also outlined some incentives: "For each visit, they get free phone cards, condoms, refreshments and reimbursement for their transportation fees." She also said that someone from the unit is on call 24 hours a day.

"If any problems arise, they are immediately reported," she added. "We just have regular vaccine problems, like swelling at the injection site."