In 2008 an estimated 20,000 people in the Caribbean became infected with HIV, and around 12,000 died of AIDS. After sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean has a higher HIV prevalence than any other area of the world, with 1.0% of the adult population infected.--AVERrt.org

Ok so last night College Lifestyle aired on CVM and my flatmates and I were super excited because one of our friends was featured on the show...Ok it turned out to be more cause my hall of residence REX NETTLEFORD HALL was featured and so was the all-male Chancellor Hall.

The majority of the show focused on HIV/AIDS awareness. Students basically spoke of what their impression of AIDS was, how they felt about the stigma of the disease, and what can be done to improve awareness and overall reduce the rate of HIV infection among our peers. All the students were well spoken (so proud) but one in particular Rosina Casserly stood out for me. She is a philosophy student and very opinionated on the subject. When she stated that UWI had highest density of HIV on the island, she started a debate in the house.

Some of my friends said they already knew that, some said that is not true, and some like me were just in SHOCK!!!!!!! I was like what?????? Highest???? Here???at UWI where the best and the brightest live and learn?????? Wow...I'm scared...no really...I am. But I am glad that we watched that episode, it got all persons present to actively dialogue about HIV/AIDS, we spoke of partying on campus (Carnival, Integration Thursdays, Drink Ups) and how easy it is to have a one-night stand especially with so many of these fetes being sponsored by Liquor companies. We also spoke about the need to be prepared at all times (girls, walk with condoms), and for self-preservation. We even discussed the whole issue of trust and if people in committed relationships should wear condoms or not. If you have had close calls, consider yourself lucky and just vow from here on out to look out for yourself . Trust me I will be doing that.

BTW Christina, the outfit was HOTTT as usual;-)

This episode re-airs Saturday at 6:30PM-Don't miss.

Go to AVERT's website for more info.

And for a World Health Organization (WHO) Epidemiological Fact Sheet on your individual island click HERE and just click on your country for all the statistics.

One more site, visit PANCAP, PanCaribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS for more info specific to the region.

World Aids Day 2009 Message By Secretary-General Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Photo source

By Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General, Caribbean CommunityGreater Georgetown, Guyana -

Today, we in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) join with the rest of the world to mark the occasion of the 21st World AIDS Day.This year’s theme Human Rights and Universal Access, could not be more timely as we take stock of the progress we have made as a Community in accelerating our response to HIV and AIDS, and contemplate the challenges ahead in reversing the spread of the epidemic.

Even as we consider the merit of a Caribbean Public Health Agency approved by our Heads of Government, and the prospects of shared or pooled public health services, we must give due recognition to the implications of the current world economic crises on our economies and the likely effects on public health services.In these circumstances the fight against HIV and AIDS calls for strengthening the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) and consolidating the integral linkages between the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework that guides the activities of PANCAP and the various national HIV and AIDS programmes.

These circumstances also demand continued support from our developing partners.Assessments of the Region’s response to the disease indicate a mixed score card. The 2009 HIV and AIDS update by UNAIDS and WHO shows, among other things, that between 2001 and 2008, there has been a 9 per cent increase in the rate of HIV infections in the Caribbean. It shows also that the rate of infection is increasing among women and that other at-risk groups continue to be men who have sex with men and commercial sex workers.

The call for more research into the role of bi-sexuality in the transmission of HIV and the reduction of stigma and discrimination cannot be overemphasized. It is for this reason that the recent establishment of the PANCAP Stigma and Discrimination Unit, as part of the regional response to research and policy, is an important first step that must be complemented by the work of our universities and other policy centres.The establishment and sustainability of PANCAP attests to the continued political leadership in the Caribbean in responding to this epidemic.

But there is much more to be done. In this regard, CARICOM and its Secretariat continue to support institutional strengthening and to emphasise the fundamental rights of persons with HIV and AIDS.In acknowledging that the response to the epidemic must be a multi-sectoral one, the Secretariat will continue to mainstream HIV and AIDS in its work programmes of health, education, youth and culture and advocate for behavior change. We call for strengthening the role of the community of persons with HIV and AIDS in the decision making process and for placing even more emphasis on the role of strategic information and communication in the overall objective to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS.

We in the Caribbean join forces with the rest of the world today and commit to placing human rights and universal access to prevention, care and treatment at the centre of the response against HIV and AIDS.

Visit PANCAP.org for more into

Right now St. Lucia has a recorded 600 plus HIV/AIDS cases. Young persons, especially pre-teens are having unprotected sex. St Lucian NGO The AIDS Action foundation is calling for a national dialogue on the distribution of condoms in schools.

My two cents: Well I think the main problem the region faces when it comes to sex is our attitudes and mentality. We just like to do things under cover, behind the scenes, in secret, under the table, however you want to label it. So I think persons in the communities need to be honest with themselves. Another thing we have is pride and we do not like change. So we continue with this farce, oh my country is conservative...ray, ray, ray, rah, rah, rah. Conservative why? cause we say good morning to people we pass on the road? (which we don't really do). But we know a lot of grown men and politicians having sexual relations with underage children and we do nothing about it. Oh yeah we will gossip about how fast the girl is, or how aye aye he married you know...but that's where it ends.

We need to be less romantic and more results oriented. Give them the condoms man. And two years down the road tell me what are the effects. Let me put it this way. Those kids gonna go out there and have sex whether you offer them condom or not. And if they are having sex with an adult then he/or she can provide it. I just would like them to promote sex education at the same time. So that we have less results like the young woman who was a virgin yet tested positive for HIV from having anal sex, cause she only though you got HIV/AIDS from vaginal sex.

What do you think???

December 1st 2008 will mark the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. The theme this year is "Lead, Empower, Deliver"

There are an estimated 33 million people with AIDS worldwide. It affects every country, city, and town in the world. And, the most frightening thing about it is that is going largely unchecked. Although several Caribbean islands have seen a stabilization in new incidences of HIV infection, certain segments of society are still at risk especially young women between the ages of 18-24 and men who have sex with men. Caribbean people are generally considered to be conservative (except at carnival time, right?). That however, should not keep us from taking a stand to educate ourselves on sexual responsibility, and to get tested to know our HIV/AIDS status. And men you guys need to get tested. Don't just send your girl to the doctor and think that's that. Go with her. It is sad that we are losing so many of our youth to something that can be so easily stopped if we just take the time to be responsible. So this World AIDS Day, go get tested, get educated and check the sites below for more information. At least that's a start!


World AIDS Campaign
AIDS.gov
UNESCO office for the Caribbean AIDS and HIV Awareness Clearinghouse

Check out the new Choices video.


In this episode Trevor tells his boys at the barbershop about a woman he has been checking all week who bought him a bracelet and invted him to the Jazz Festival in St. Lucia.

To see video click here

Images courtesy MTV Tempo