AIDS activists plan demonstration at K.H.M.H.
With neither the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital nor Ministry of Health in any apparent rush to figure out how three hospital patients were transfused with HIV infected blood, the community is beginning to become aroused. Led by the Alliance Against AIDS, a demonstration called “Blood on Your Hands” is hoping to get the attention of both health authorities and the general public. Rodel Beltran Perera, the organisation’s director, says the march is planned for 9:00 to 12:00 noon on Wednesday.
Rodel Beltran Perera, Executive Dir., Alliance Against AIDS
“It is in support of those persons that were infected with HIV contaminated blood and their families. This has been very difficult for those people and their families.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“So it’s a demonstration in solidarity?”
Rodel Beltran Perera
“It is a demonstration in solidarity with those that have been infected as well as affected. However, it is also an opportunity for us as the Alliance Against AIDS in advocacy. We do not have properly policies in any of those medical institutions at all. It is lacking, we do not have legislation for the protection of the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as people living with the disease, and their families; again, we stress that the family member and other loved ones are part of the suffering. So we feel it is the start of making our demands.”
“We need to see proper policies at the Medical Laboratory. We also need to see proper management of HIV and AIDS from people within the K.H.M.H. There’s got to be some level of compassion now in there. We know that there’s a lot of discrimination, health professionals want nothing to do… I shouldn’t generalise, there are some people that are willing to help, but a lot of them don’t and we need to bring this to the front. We need to bring public attention to this. More and more people will show up with HIV. The rate of infection is already on the increase. We’ll see a higher mortality rate, and all these issues are of concern to us because they will end up at the K.H.M.H.”
“What we want to do is to bring the attention of the public to these issues, but also a call, a plea to everyone to get involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Only we as individuals, only we as individual Belizean men, women, young men, young women, parents, teachers, employees, employers, are we able to do this together.”
The march will take place around the various health facilities on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City. Perera is also inviting the public to stop by and show their support. Motorists are especially asked to honk their horns when they drive by.
