Belize celebrates World AIDS Day
Today the Ministry of Health is being cautiously optimistic following the results of a study conducted on HIV and AIDS over the past five years in Belize. According to Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Edwards, they have noticed there was a decrease in the rate of increase of new HIV infections and they hope that the finding signals a start to a new trend in the country. Jacqueline Woods reports.
Dr. Paul Edwards, Epidemiologist, Min. of Health
“We figure that due to the fact that awareness has been increased, there are lot of messages out there about HIV/AIDS. Also, the start of the voluntary counselling and testing programme, the prevention of the mother to child transmission programme, and all the efforts of all those responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic here in Belize, we?re seeing whereby there is a decrease in the increase. Now we need to be cautious with that, we are not saying that the numbers are decreasing, we are not saying that we?ve reached a plateau and there?s a decrease. We?re saying we?re hoping that there?s a start of a trend to see that continued decrease in increase and eventually we will reach a plateau.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
At the end of December 2003, two thousand seven hundred Belizeans tested positive for HIV. And by April of 2004, there were ninety-seven new HIV infections. Today, Belize is still rated as the country with the highest rate of HIV and AIDS infection per capita in Central America. The situation continues to be a priority concern for all involved in the fight.
Prime Minister Said Musa, a staunch supporter of the awareness campaign, says everyone has to get involved be honest with ourselves because the deadly disease can affect any one of us, not only prostitutes, homosexuals, and drug addicts.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“Innocent housewives getting AIDS, and the victims of this are the orphans who are left behind. So it is as has been said, really one of the greatest threats facing mankind today and we have to recognise it as such. Don?t treat it as a curse where we stigmatise people and push them aside, but realise that this is a disease far worse than tuberculosis, worse than malaria, but it?s a disease and we can fight it once we adopt the proper mechanisms, once we realise that at the very core, the essence, what we are talking about is a change in our lifestyle, a behavioural change.?
Jacqueline Woods
?And like you said, because it is a disease affecting the work force, it?s also affecting the development of the country.?
Prime Minister Said Musa
?Indeed! It?s not just a health problem; it?s a major development challenge. It can wipe out the productivity of our nation if we don?t deal with it, and deal with it urgently.”
Today, Belize joined other countries across the globe to observe World Aids Day. The activity involved the launch of a ?Know Your HIV Status: Get Tested Today Campaign.?
Dr. Paul Edwards
“So we want more Belizeans to go out and get tested. Also, it is known that many Belizeans, because of the nature of this disease, you can be HIV positive, appear as normal as possible, and if you?re living with the virus then you?ll be able to pass that virus on to others, if you don?t know your status, if you don?t protect yourself when you?re having sexual activity. So it becomes very important then for us as a country to know our status.”
Vildo Marin, Minister of Health
“Well I am hoping that everybody will get tested, and that includes me of course. So that we can know exactly what our status is.”
During the ceremony the song ?Reaching Out? written by minister of Human Development Sylvia Flores and composed by Allan Castillo was released. Following the launch there was an open fair at the Alejo Beni Park in Dangriga. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
World AIDS Day was celebrated under the Theme: “Women, Girls, HIV/AIDS, We Choose to Live!”
