AIDS Commission to hold vigil in Belmopan
The startling statistic that in Belize one Belizean dies every week from AIDS or an AIDS related disease has not managed to elicit the response it should. Maybe the newest numbers will. AIDS is now the 3rd leading cause of death in Belize, for people between the ages of 15 and 44, with the Belize District having the highest number of cases. The newly established AIDS Commission is getting desperate and with ample cause, they’re taking their case to the heartland. The commission has organized a candlelight vigil in Belmopan next Tuesday hoping to get the attention of the government.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Chairperson, AIDS Commission
“It’s very important that we bring together as many people as possible country wide. Not only as I’ve said before to raise the consciousness, but to make sure that we are doing something about taking note that this is a very serious threat to all of humanity and a serious threat to all of us here in Belize.”
Janelle Chanona
“As far a getting the message through to Belizeans, what is the commission doing and what has it been doing during the past few weeks.”
Ruth Gloria, Coordinator, AIDS Commission
Well we have been active just recently, but we are developing a national plan for HIV/AIDS. Our main concern is that there is no policy for HIV/AIDS in the country and we need to develop that policy and legal frameworks that address the HIV issue and protects individuals who are HIV positive. Those are the kinds, on the macro level that we are trying to do as a commission. Also we are looking to see and ensure that other agencies are responding to HIV/AIDS and that they are including that issue in their policies. We are also creating awareness countrywide. Our role is also to play the role of advocacy for HIV/AIDS, but this candlelight vigil is a clear message to government asking for their support not only from health. HIV/AIDS is not a health issue alone, it is a social issue and the Human Development Department has responded, but we need even more of a response. HIV/AIDS does not discriminate, is affects every community, every area, every ministry, it will affect tourism, it will affect industry, it will affect agriculture and we need them to respond and see it accordingly. So this is one of the main reasons why we are having it in Belmopan because we want to send a message to government to continue to give us support, but a more multi-sectoral response.”
The vigil starts at 4:00 pm on Tuesday at the Independence Park in Belmopan.
