AIDS: infections up, youth speak out
It’s a subject often in the media and today the news on AIDS is both good and bad. Jacqueline Woods reports on the most recent statistics along with efforts toward reducing an alarming trend.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The number of new HIV and Aids cases continues to rise in Belize.
Dr. Paul Edwards, Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health
“We saw in the first quarter of this year, there were ninety-nine new HIV infections. In the second quarter we even saw an increase whereby there was one hundred and thirty-two new HIV infections. We are in the phase now of getting the third quarter. The problem continues to increase.”
But what it will take to change the behaviour of Belizeans, particularly those who are most at risk of contracting the deadly disease?
Tricia Belle
“Parents aren’t comfortable talking to their children about sex and HIV/AIDS. They have this stigma that if we don’t go there then maybe my family won’t be infected with this thing. And we have to realize¡XAIDS. It doesn’t care what age, race or anything like that.”
Kanes Nolberto
“Why are youths reluctant in reading about the prevention of AIDS and we came up with fact that the main issue is the literacy.”
Dr. Paul Edwards, Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health
“What I want to say to Belizeans is to recognize that we need as of today to be responsible.”
This morning close to one hundred young persons responded to the call and gathered at the Birds Isle in Belize City. The objective is to find out from the participants what they believe is the best plan of action to take to give their peers access to quality information about HIV and AIDS. The forum, organised by UNICEF and UNAIDS, is part of the National Plan of Action.
Jay Coombs, Technical Assistant, UN Theme Group, HIV/AIDS
“We want at the end of this forum to have a declaration from young people that will speak directly to what young people want agencies, the government, various community based organizations to target and develop in response to HIV and AIDS specifically targeting young people and engaging them in the process.”
The young men and women feel that much of the information provided to them, whether it is through television, radio or print is not effective. Based on a local television production that the participants viewed as part of the exercise, they quickly highlighted points in the presentation that they believe are the reasons why young persons are not getting the message.
Tricia Belle
“The videos are focusing only on females and that they should be focusing more on males and youths on a whole are the ones being affected.”
Dr. Paul Edwards, Epidemiologist
“We need to bridge the gap here in this country or else the numbers will continue to increase. I am very happy and pleased that young people are making that positive step forward are being involved and are stating what they need to get done in this country in our response to HIV and AIDS.”
As Belizean youths do what they can to work against HIV and AIDS, this evening, the National Aids Commission signed for the first payment of one point two million U.S dollars out of a total of two point four million approved by the Global Fund last October.
Ambassador Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Chairperson, NAC
“It will help the Ministry of Health to increase the level of training and also the medications and it will also help some our NGOs to step up the prevention activities and the other services of HIV/AIDS.”
NAC expects to actually receive the first payment of one point two million U.S dollars in three weeks time. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
A press release issued by UNICEF states that nine of ten persons who are infected with HIV, get it through unprotected sex. Half of the HIV positive cases reported this year occurred in persons between the ages of ten and twenty-nine.
