Gender Equality and HIV Resource Persons and Agencies
Gender Equality and HIV Resource Persons and Agencies
Gender Equality and HIV Resource Persons and Agencies
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The National <strong>HIV</strong>/STI<br />
Programme, Jamaica<br />
Jamaica’s <strong>HIV</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape includes features of both a generalized <strong>and</strong> concentrated<br />
epidemic. This accounts for a low in <strong>HIV</strong> prevalence among the adult population of<br />
1.7% to a high among men who have sex with men (MSM) of 32%. Currently, there<br />
is an estimated 32,000 persons living with <strong>HIV</strong> (PL<strong>HIV</strong>), half of which is unaware of<br />
their status. Since January 1982 <strong>and</strong> December 2010, twenty seven thous<strong>and</strong> two<br />
hundred <strong>and</strong> seventy two cases (27,272) of <strong>HIV</strong> were reported to the Ministry of<br />
Health (AIDS Report, 2010).<br />
High risk behaviour such as early sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, high levels<br />
of transactional sex, gender inequalities, inadequate condom use <strong>and</strong> homophobia<br />
continue to fuel the transmission of <strong>HIV</strong> <strong>and</strong> STIs, (MoH, 2010). The <strong>HIV</strong> epidemic<br />
is also closely tied to poverty <strong>and</strong> related development issues, including the slow<br />
rate of economic growth, high levels of unemployment, low educational attainment<br />
especially among males, <strong>and</strong> crime <strong>and</strong> violence. Moreover, the epidemic threatens<br />
national productivity because the majority of cases occur in the reproductive <strong>and</strong><br />
working age groups.<br />
As such, the national <strong>HIV</strong> response focuses equally on preventing the further spread<br />
of the epidemic, supporting better care for those infected <strong>and</strong> affected by <strong>HIV</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />
building capacity <strong>and</strong> resilience to withst<strong>and</strong> the impact of AIDS through several<br />
priority areas. These include:<br />
1. Expansion of prevention programmes especially among most at risk<br />
populations (MARPs) including direct <strong>and</strong> targetted risk reduction messages,<br />
access to testing <strong>and</strong> peer counselling.<br />
2. Strengthening of positive health dignity <strong>and</strong> prevention programmes<br />
particularly among most at risk populations including increased care <strong>and</strong><br />
support for adolescents living with <strong>HIV</strong> <strong>and</strong> AIDS.<br />
3. Scaling up of <strong>HIV</strong> testing, particularly among most at risk populations <strong>and</strong><br />
hospital admissions in order to identify persons most in need of treatment <strong>and</strong><br />
delay progression to AIDS.<br />
[ 4 ]<br />
An Overview
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