Move to combat HIV/AIDS in women

NATIONAL Aids Coordinating Committee (NACC) Chairperson Angela Lee Loy yesterday disclosed that there would be an increased number of programmes to sensitise women to the dangers of HIV/AIDS in 2005. Speaking with reporters after a mass at the Holy Trinity Cathedral to commemorate World AIDS Day 2004, Lee Loy said this will be done because women “are the endangered species at the moment (increasing numbers of women worldwide becoming infected with HIV/AIDS).” The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS.” “The statistics are showing you the percentage of  women getting involved. Of course it is because of vulnerability. “There is a lot of poverty as we know in this country and when you see that you don’t have the power to do the things that you would like to do, of course you do whatever will allow you to survive,” she explained.

Lee Loy said education would be a key component of these programmes, and discussions have been ongoing with Education Minister Hazel Manning about “getting into the schools.” She said abstinence was important and other areas to be examined include a social life/family skills component in the school curriculum. Lee Loy also stressed that responsible parenting was important in halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and debunked the myth that children from single parent homes are more likely to become HIV positive. “Self-esteem is a key issue and this is where parenting is absolutely important,” Lee Loy declared. During the mass, Independent Senator Brother their Noble Khan said it was necessary to re-evaluate the society’s norms, and that stronger families provided an important bulwark against HIV/AIDS.

Khan said all religions focused on strong family bonds through the institution of marriage and warned the population that “when we exploit our children, we exploit ourselves.” He urged Government to play its part in reducing all the factors which may foster unhealthy lifestyles thereby promoting the spread of HIV/AIDS. Khan urged all stakeholders to play their part in overcoming HIV/AIDS and never abandon hope that one day the pandemic will be no more. Inter-Religious Organisation Chairman, Rev Cyril Paul, urged the national community to “choose life over all the death activities (associated with HIV/AIDS).” Among those attending yesterday’s mass were President George Maxwell Richards, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal, House Speaker Barry Sinanan, Community Development Minister Joan Yuille-Williams and local United Nations Development Programme representative Inyang Ebong-Harstrup.