December 1, 2024, marked the 36th commemoration of World AIDS Day, with a disclosure that approximately 1000 people in Saint Lucia are living with HIV.
According to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, of these, only 284 are actively collecting their antiretroviral medication.
In addition Senior Medical Officer for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Gail Gajadhar, noted that there are persons who are undiagnosed and thus unaware of their HIV status.
“Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” Gajadhar warned.
While 16 people in St. Lucia died of AIDS-related causes in 2023, the availability of comprehensive treatments, including antiretroviral therapy, offers hope.
Saint Lucia has made strides in ensuring access to life-saving medicines, diagnostics, and treatment for opportunistic infections.
Saint Lucia also provides medication to pregnant women living with HIV, reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to their unborn children.
However, Dr. Gajadhar underscored that “discrimination of people living with HIV has deprived them of basic human rights that other people, including other patients, enjoy.”
The theme for World Aids Day 2024, “Take the Right Path,” highlighted the global commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Since the start of the AIDS epidemic 43 years ago, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that 78 million people have been infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Dr. Gajadhar stated, “According to UN AIDS, the world can end AIDS if everyone’s rights are protected with human rights at the center and communities in the lead. The world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030”
However, she emphasised that achieving this ambitious goal requires putting “human rights at the center and communities in the lead.”
“By protecting everyone’s right to health, ensuring equity in service provision, and eliminating stigma and discrimination, we can achieve an AIDS-free Saint Lucia,” the Senior Medical Officer for Infectious Diseases declared.
Frightening…
if the data is correct with such a small percent 284 receiving meds out of approximately 1000 – lets all be realistic and do the math simply based on the remaining number non medicated individuals who are out there (1000 minus 284) ???????. Godspeed
Why not do contact tracing like covid
Aids will soon be like herpes, almost everybody will have a strain!
@Wise man. Because they don’t really care about your health. Don’t let the covid kabuki theatre fool you.
Been celibate for years. Men in St. Lucia think they can just jump into bed with everybody. Bring them to do a job for you and they already eyeing you or texting you and they do not leave you guessing as to what they want. And there are these women down here who think bed hopping is fun. Not to mention the men who love these type of women. They will learn.
@Anonymous not only that, these ppl with be infecting persons from left to right cuz they might not know where they got it from
rum + gossip + sleeping around (married or not ) = the majority of St. Lucians
There’s 1000 people they know of living with the HIV virus in st Lucia how about the rest of the people who has the virus who doesn’t go to the doctor drinking bush medicine’s and spreading the virus like wild fire THERE’S MUCH MORE PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AIDS IN ST LUCIA…
@Incognito – so true – that’s why I said – do the math – huh.
@Wow you are correct – historically when it comes to sexual behavior in St. Lucia most folk are extremely ignorant and for most of them too late will be their cry – they love to commit adultery while jumping in bed with Tom, Dick and Harry, Rebecca, Paul and Mary and some because of their promiscuous behavior are already infected or at risk and continue to spread the virus without regard – karma knows everyone address – some are afraid to get tested because of their sick behavior and guess what – the virus is spreading like wild fire. Godspeed.
@Seinfeld – you are 100 PERCENT CORRECT
@Wow move your ***** *** from there.
Anyone told you to be or become a freak of nature?..The bloody rest of us are human.!!!!! Goddamnit!… It’s you and your type have the world looking in all other directions but the right one….So what some people do careless s*** with themselves, and others pay, but don’t come putting all of us in the one bag!
Geeeeezzzz!