When Harry met Rihanna

The occasion? Both were participating in an event at Heroes Square commemorating World Aids Day.

They took rapid HIV/AIDS tests together, live before the world.

We return once more to the issue if HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in order to praise both for using their celebrity for a worthy cause.

Many people are still unaware of how easy it is to get tested, the importance of getting tested as well as the robust treatment options now available.

“You can find out literally on the spot,” Rihanna told the BBC. “We just did it in the middle of Heroes Square in Barbados and we just want to show people how easy it is to get tested and how you should not be afraid of knowing your status.” “You should be afraid of not knowing,” Prince Harry chimed in. “And you should be afraid of not talking about it. There is a generational gap here and we need to smash through that. The younger generation coming through want to talk about it but there is still that stigma. So if us getting tested normalizes it and makes a difference, just even a small difference, then job well done.” In Trinidad and Tobago, according to the latest information released last week, there has been a significant decrease in the number of people being diagnosed annually with HIV/AIDS.

Less than 500 persons, down from 1000, are being diagnosed annually.

Right now there are about 11,000 people living with HIV. In 2012, there were 22,085 persons diagnosed with HIV, according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services Jacinta Bailey-Sobers. But now is not the time to get complacent.

The Caribbean still has the second highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world, after Sub-Sahara Africa.

One in three persons with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean do not know that they have it which can only result in its further spread, and undermine measures that have been put in place to end the epidemic.

“To end AIDS as a public health threat,” said Caribbean Public Health Agency Executive Director Dr James Hospedales last week, “our combined efforts are important. It is therefore critical for us to have a multi-sectoral approach involving community participation.” The community, he said, “must play its role in advocacy, the fight against stigma and discrimination, and support those affected and prevent others from being infected.

By strengthening community participation and working together we can end this epidemic.” He said that, “HIV/AIDS is not just a serious health issue in the Caribbean, it also impacts negatively on the economy and our social life. Let us all take the challenge to end AIDS.” There are encouraging signs. Trinidad and Tobago is well on its way to eliminating the transmission of HIV from mother to child, having had two or less cases over the past five years, according to PAHO/WHO local representative, Dr Bernadette Theodore- Gandi. But there is no reason why mother to child transmission cannot be eliminated completely.

It is important that everyone knows their HIV status and that persons ensure it is managed properly to prevent the spread of new infections.

Factors that can decrease someone’s chance of getting or transmitting HIV include HIV testing, HIV drugs for persons at high risk for HIV infection, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and the use of female and male condoms.

It is equally important for public officials and visible stakeholders to help fight stigma and discrimination in all sectors of life. They should follow the example set by Prince Harry and Rihanna.