Fight against AIDS

This is a shift in focus from public campaigns in recent months, during which the Health Ministry followed the lead of the Ministry of Education to emphasise abstinence-only and morality as the best methods of combating HIV and unwanted pregnancies. No one would argue that it is important to promote abstinence and values in sex education. But it is irresponsible for the State to promote abstinence and values only, and not give equal weight to other strategies.

This is because the State has a responsibility to all citizens, not merely those who adhere to certain beliefs. There are those persons who will not, or can not, choose abstinence. There are those persons whose values, whatever they may be, do not include fidelity to one partner. The State cannot ignore such persons in its fight against HIV — moreso because it is these very persons who are at greater risk of contracting HIV. Indeed, the irony of abstinence-only programmes is that they are most likely to appeal to those individuals who are less likely to contract HIV.

But the Carnival season appears to have injected a jolt of reality to the various State bodies. This is because of the widespread belief that sexual intercourse rises during Carnival and that many of those persons who follow such behaviour patterns aren’t going to be moved by messages to abstain. So people are instead being urged, not only to exercise restraint, but to protect themselves during sex.

Several Non-Governmental Organisations are distributing free condoms at various key locations, particularly Carnival fetes. Critics would argue that such campaigns encourage people to have sex. But the point is, people are very likely going to have sex anyway. And, if an opportunity arises, very few of those persons are going to let the heat of the moment cool by going to buy condoms. But, if they have already been handed one for free, they are more likely to use it.

Such strategies are crucial if this country is to contain HIV-infections, especially given that the Carnival crowd is often the same cohort most at risk for contracting AIDS. After all, the pattern of HIV-infection shows that the State has so far failed to reach those persons who most need to hear the AIDS message. According to Patricia Belmar, deputy Technical Director of the NACC, 16 percent of new infections were in the 15-to-24 age group, and 70 percent of new infections were amongst women. YMCA spokesperson Ava Rampersad also said that the prevalence rate of HIV in Trinidad and Tobago is three percent, and that this is an increase from two to three years ago.

Government figures list the prevalence rate at 2.5 percent so, if Ms Rampersad’s own figures are accurate, the increase is only 0.5 percent.

However, even this slight increase contradicts recent claims by the Health Ministry that there has been a 50 percent drop in the rate of new HIV infections.

Given this statistical uncertainty, we cannot afford to ignore any strategy that will help us combat AIDS.

That the various bodies charged with this responsibility are so active this Carnival is certainly cause for commendation.