Editorial =
What's Your Position
HIV and AIDS Situation in the Caribbean Region
Outside of sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean has the highest HIV prevalence rate of any region of the world and the highest HIV incidence rate among women in the Americas.
The Caribbean region has 25 countries with four distinct languages and a variety of cultures.
Nine of the 12 countries with the highest HIV prevalence in the Americas are in the Caribbean area. It is estimated that approximately 2 percent of the region's population is infected with HIV.
The primary mode of HIV transmission in the Caribbean is presumed to be heterosexual contact, accounting for 64 percent of AIDS cases in CAREC-member countries.
Mother-to-child HIV transmission represents 6 percent of reported AIDS cases and may rise due to increasing infection rates among women and the lack of programs across the region to prevent mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.
Among men, 20 percent of HIV/AIDS infections are reportedly due to sex with other men.1
Our Greatest defence
Being regularly tested for HIV, AIDS and Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is our greatest prevention strategy to ensure that we can through our communities reduce the spread and level of new infections, as well as safeguard those persons who are living positively with HIV and AIDS. Knowing our individual HIV status is our way as a Caribbean region to demonstrate that we are a part of an army, coming together to fight against a global pandemic.
The Good News that HIV and AIDS are showing us are:
- HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are preventable.
- Our lives are worth living.
- Sex is worth waiting for.
- You are worth waiting for.
Keep your promise this Carnival 2007 and know you position on preventing HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in the Caribbean.
Many thanks to the Society for Family Health for partnering with MSMNPA and providing the “Got It - Get It” logo, for use on our cover.
Dennis James - DENI
Project Director
MSM: No Political Agenda - MSMNPA
The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Tel: 1 (868) 694 1530 / 685 0555
Fax: 1 (868) 694 1531
Email: office@msmnpa.org office@msmnpa.org
Website: www.msmnpa.org
