By Wayne Campbell
The United Nations Inhabitants Fund (UNFPA) states that the Caribbean has the very best incidence fee of reported AIDS instances within the Americas. With between 350,000 and 590,000 Caribbean individuals residing with HIV/AIDS, the area has an grownup HIV prevalence fee between 1.9 p.c and three.1 p.c, second solely to Africa (7.5 p.c and eight.5 p.c). Of that quantity, 83 p.c know their standing and 68 p.c of them are on remedy. Nevertheless, solely 57 p.c of individuals residing with HIV are virally suppressed and thus have a lowered threat of transmitting the virus to their sexual companions.
As a area the Caribbean is dealing with a generalized epidemic. HIV/AIDS is effectively entrenched right here, with a nationwide prevalence of no less than 1 p.c in 12 international locations, all of them within the Caribbean Basin. The newest nationwide estimates confirmed HIV prevalence amongst pregnant ladies reaching or exceeding 2 p.c in eight international locations: the Bahamas, Belize, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. Over 30,000 individuals are residing with HIV in Jamaica. This can be a vital p.c of the HIV inhabitants within the Caribbean area.
The excessive fee of HIV instances ought to function a wake-up name for these of us who reside within the Caribbean. Nevertheless, as we enter the fourth decade for the reason that onset of the virus, many people who’re older might have dropped our guard for the reason that days when HIV was seen as a painful dying sentence. That sense of urgency blended with worry has been changed with complacency as extra fashionable medicines have emerged to handle HIV/AIDS. The event of recent antiretroviral remedies has reworked HIV an infection right into a persistent however manageable well being situation. Moreover, mortality charges as a consequence of AIDS have fallen all through developed and creating societies.
On Dec. 1 the worldwide group commemorates World AIDS Day 2025. Beneath the theme “Overcoming disruption, reworking the AIDS response,” advocates are calling for sustained political management, worldwide cooperation, and human-rights-centred approaches to finish AIDS by 2030. The World Well being Group states that after many years of progress, the HIV response stands at a crossroads. Life-saving companies are being disrupted and plenty of communities face heightened dangers and vulnerabilities. In 2025, a historic funding disaster is threatening to unravel many years of progress. Globally, HIV prevention companies are severely disrupted.
Intercourse as forex
Isiuwa Iyahen, consultant of UN Ladies acknowledged, “Everyone seems to be determined. Males are determined, ladies are determined, all people is determined, however due to their disproportionate care wants, and in addition as a result of they’re extra weak to sexual violence, now we have seen conditions the place ladies will then make tough decisions in the event that they don’t have entry to cash or to shelter and a livelihood.”
Iyahen added, “Ladies want cash to have the ability to handle themselves, their youngsters, their members of the family and in the event that they’re taking good care of aged dad and mom. In the event that they’re in a scenario the place unscrupulous individuals might resolve to reap the benefits of that and commerce or present them with cash in alternate for, sadly, intercourse, these are the sorts of conditions that sadly can happen.”
In a latest interview, sexologist Dr. Sydney McGill stated, “Analysis reveals disasters usually push individuals towards sexual exercise as a type of emotional reduction, making it crucial to make sure entry to contraceptives and the supply of focused help for weak teams who might face stress or coercion into buying and selling intercourse for favours as they battle to manage and survive.”
Given additionally the displacement ensuing from a pure catastrophe comparable to Hurricane Melissa which made landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 28, the society have to be conscious that sexual well being is necessary within the restoration effort. Evidently, in such determined situations, condom utilization may be negotiable and that is problematic. Importantly, such a dialog – although uncomfortable for some – have to be needed to deal with the sexual wants.
Structural inequalities
The UN affirms that over 40 million individuals are residing with HIV globally. Of that quantity, 10 million individuals are ready for HIV remedy. In 2024, 1.3 million individuals contracted HIV.
AIDS shouldn’t be over. International political management is crucial to advance insurance policies that deal with structural inequalities and defend weak populations. Among the many areas of structural inequalities are poverty, racism, gender inequality and sexual oppression. The commemoration of World AIDS Day offers the right alternative for us to revisit the messaging, particularly with the proliferation of social media. Those that are tasked with creating public training campaigns have to be intentional concerning the focused teams because the HIV epidemic continues largely unencumbered by formal public well being and teaching programs.
We have to be conscious that in lots of areas continuously grounded in patriarchy there’s a thriving tradition of misinformation surrounding HIV/AIDS which frequently receives a lot traction on social media. Consequently, the myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS have to be countered with scientific knowledge. This World AIDS Day requires transformative and culturally sensible options to enhance entry to HIV companies, remove stigma and discrimination as soon as and for all, and make sure the safety of rights for ladies, ladies, and different marginalized communities that proceed to face disproportionate obstacles in accessing healthcare.
On this World AIDS Day, give your self the peace of thoughts that comes with data and discover out your HIV standing.
The opinions expressed on this commentary are these of the author and never essentially these of the AFRO.
