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| Health Minister concerned about increase in HIV/AIDS cases |
| The increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases is a need for national concern, says Minister of Health and Human Services Hon. Dr. Lillian Boyce. In her message to mark World AIDS Day which was celebrated on December 1, Hon. Boyce described HIV/AIDS as an emergency. “What is of concern to me, my Government and, I am sure, the entire country, is that our numbers of HIV cases are increasing despite the National AIDS programme's efforts to empower the people by providing information on how to address this matter. So much progress has been made and our country's response has been strong to the epidemic, but as Minister of Health, I make no apologies for saying that it needs to be strengthened,” she said. |
The Minister of Health said it is sometimes difficult for people to appreciate the national emergency that HIV/AIDS presents, because it has crept up on us over the past 20 years. “But the reality which we must never forget is that HIV/AIDS remains a national and international emergency which threatens our development as a nation,” she said. “We have promoted the implementation of comprehensive health care targeting affected individuals. We have, as a government, purchased lifelong anti-retroviral medication for all our HIV infected persons that are made known to the Ministry of Health. In the past two years, we have not had a baby born with HIV in the country as a direct result of all pregnant women receiving HIV tests and those who need it, receiving drugs to protect their baby. Screening, testing and community outreach have all increased. We have provided the political will, the policies and the financial commitment, but it takes the entire community to prevent and control the HIV epidemic,” she stressed.
Hon. Boyce said partnerships have been formed between the National AIDS programme, the business community, faith based organizations and other non-governmental organizations over recent years, but more can be done. “I ask every one of you to take the lead as leadership does not only apply to those who old positions of power. I am asking you fathers, sons, husbands and brothers to support the rights of women, since young women remain the most vulnerable group. I ask you young women to empower yourselves and prepare yourselves for a bright future, but exercise care, caution and protection,” she said. She appealed to the church, as one of the most powerful and influential organizations in the community, to provide guidance in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“Your (the church's) influence on your congregations through design and implementation of programmes promoting risk reduction behaviours, your care and compassion for those affected with HIV, are much in need at this stage of our development,” she added. She told the young people that of the 41 million people living with HIV, half of those who have become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 years old and are killed by HIV/AIDS before they are 35. “This is the global picture, but what I'm trying to say to you young people is that you are the most at risk. And if you are at risk, that means that our future is at risk. This is why I am calling HIV/AIDS a national emergency,” she said. She gave the assurance that Government will do whatever is necessary to fight HIV/AIDS, as it is in the national interest of the Turks and Caicos Islands to do so. |
| [ 14-01-2009 ] |
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