“I care… do you?”: AIDS rates continue to rise

Today, one Belizean was infected by HIV. Was it you? Do you care? That is the startling new reality in our country and even more shocking is that most infected persons don’t know about their status until it’s too late. It is within that context that the theme for National AIDS Week is “I care…do you?” According to the Executive Director of the Alliance Against AIDS, Rodel Beltran Perera, being diagnosed with HIV is not a death sentence.

Rodel Beltran Perera, Exec. Dir., Alliance Against AIDS

“As to the reasons behind the increase, could it be that the message is getting out there, or could it be that the people are becoming ill and seeking medical attention. That could be it too, so we need to look at it very closely. As to awareness, I think that we still are not doing enough. I know that AIDS week is here and that’s when we see it blow up like a balloon. You hear more and more about HIV and AIDS. But we as the Alliance, as members of the National AIDS Commission, being led by the National AIDS Commission and a national response, we know that more and more information is getting out there about HIV and it’s danger, and of course, the suffering of AIDS.

If you are HIV positive, that does not mean you will die, it does not mean that you will die tomorrow, it does not mean that you will die next week, next year, next three years, next five years. One of my very good friends lived with it for fifteen years. And that’s why we need the involvement of people living with the virus, it is difficult, but to try and come out and seek help, seek emotional help.”

National AIDS Week ends this Saturday, December first, World AIDS Day, with a parade through the streets of Belize City and a fair at BTL Park.