(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr. Edwin Carrington has issued a call for all persons in the CARICOM Region to strive to control the scourge of HIV/AIDS, and to give hope to persons living with the disease.
Speaking at a seminar held at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana on Monday 15 November to sensitise staff about the issue, the Secretary-General pledged the Secretariat's support for efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS. The sensitisation forum, which focused on the reduction of stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS, came ahead of the CARICOM/United Kingdom High-Level Conference on Stigma and Discrimination, to be held 22-24 November in St. Kitts and Nevis under the theme, Champions for Change.
Mr. Carrington noted that the High-Level conference is taking place as the Region prepares for the advent of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). “CARICOM Heads of Government are quite cognizant of the role of people in the efficient and effective operation of the CSME, and are concerned that the spread of HIV/AIDS would debilitate this most precious resource and constitute a major impediment to development”, he pointed out.
Noting that HIV/AIDS has become an epidemic with the Caribbean being second only to sub-Saharan Africa, in terms of the prevalence of the disease, he said CARICOM Heads are persuaded that urgent action is required to prevent and control the epidemic, which could severely impact the Region's social and economic development.
Meanwhile, Guyana's Health Minister Hon. Dr Leslie Ramsammy in his address to the seminar observed that despite pervasive education and awareness campaigns both at the national and Regional levels, stigma and discrimination persists. In light of this, he said, there is an urgent need for the enactment of laws with strict sanctions to complement education and policy guidelines.
“As we in the Caribbean embrace the need to formulate a comprehensive legal framework as part of our overall response to HIV/AIDS, recognising that it is vital in the efforts to contain the epidemic, we must act with a sense of urgency and yet be careful that the human rights of all citizens are protected”, Dr Ramsammy stated.
