Mayor: No sex before marriage to fight AIDS

With figures indicating sharp increases in HIV, Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown has suggested that more focus should be given to promoting “no sex before marriage and fidelity in relationships” to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He said it has been determined that the disease is spread through behaviour and measures such as the use of condoms have been used. In addition, international, Government and non-governmental agencies have been involved in sensitising people but the disease “continues apace.”

Addressing the HIV/AIDS Alliance/PoS Corporation observance of World AIDS Day at Knox Street yesterday, Brown said that during the period 1999-2000, there was a 45 percent increase in HIV/AIDS cases in the 15-19 age group. He said, to date, there are 17,500 people infected with HIV/AIDS.  The Mayor said TT is ranked 17th in the world for HIV/AIDS, fifth among the English-speaking Caribbean and first among larger Caribbean islands.

“PoS itself lies within county St George which, according to statistics, has the highest number of recorded cases of HIV/AIDS in this country.” The PoS Corporation is currently involved in a city consultation with an overall goal of developing a city strategy which fits into the national framework for reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS among the youth population and improving care for infected persons and their families.

Workshops have taken place for interest groups, NGOs, community groups and Government agencies involved in devising programmes and projects to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. Personnel from these organisations have also been trained in approaches to bring about increased involvement. Brown invited organisations not “on board” in the consultation, to join. “It is imperative that we all get involved in the fight since we are all at risk as individuals, as families and as communities,” he said.