HIV/AIDS targets country’s future

The Government has made some inroads in tackling HIV, with Health Minister John Rahael recently reporting that the rates of new infections and the rate of deaths from AIDS had been halved over the past three years. At the same time, Mr Rahael said that his Ministry intended to promote abstinence and morals as methods of combating the disease — an odd change of focus, inasmuch as the 50 percent reduction has been achieved without recourse to such proselytising, public education being the main plank of HIV-prevention.

Despite this recent success in the HIV batttle, the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) last week criticised the government for not being committed to sexual and reproductive health rights of citizens. To back up her point, FPATT president Dr Jacqueline Sharpe referred to newspaper headlines about incest, child abuse, and delinquent youths. But this doesn’t really reflect a lack of government commitment. It reflects the shortcomings of the society as a whole, because there are certain matters in which the authorities can only act after the fact — such as incest. The real criticism must focus on the authorities failure to act, as in the Akiel Chambers case.

Where Dr Sharpe has a justifiable complaint is in respect to the State subvention given to FPATT — a pitiful $1 million when, Dr Sharpe argues, at least $6 million is needed. That money would give better returns, in our view, than the $850 million the Government insists on spending on the Tarouba sporting complex.

Dr Sharpe also noted that "removing the cultural, financial, and physical barriers in dealing with sexual reproductive health is critical in ensuring access to all." Again, this is a society-wide rather than government-specific project, but the Government certainly should take the initiative by promoting its Draft Gender Policy. This document can help change the cultural and physical obstacles women face in getting equal treatment in the society. But, if the Government does not put the Draft Policy out for comment within the next few months, FPATT’s criticisms will be justified. Indeed, it is unacceptable that the Government has not already responded to criticisms of the Draft Policy, since certain organisations have falsely claimed that the document recommends the legalisation of abortion and same-sex marriage.

Where FPATT is right on target is in its assertion that sexual and reproductive health issues are a key to battling other social problems. Last week, Dr Ray Noel, the Tobago HIV/AIDS regional director, noted that there were lower STD infection rates in societies where females had defined rights and where males were less dominant. Such societies also tend to be more economically prosperous and politically stable. So, on that basis alone, the Government really must make women’s rights — in health, law, employment — a key issue on its road to Vision 2020.