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Special bulletin to be released on HIV stats
…as plans for World AIDS Day observance unfold
Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy is flanked by popular artistes Jessica Xavier and Edward Neblett
The implementation of a much anticipated HIV/AIDS legislation will be placed high on the Parliamentary agenda for next year, according to Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy.
The Health Minister was at the time addressing a gathering of media operatives at a press conference held in his office yesterday, to highlight the ministry’s plans for World AIDS Day.
According to the minister, a draft of the legislation has already been prepared, and several consultations based on its contents have been undertaken.
However, the minister admitted that there has not been consensus on what the actual laws should be.
Minister Ramsammy disclosed that, at present, the draft is at the Office of the Attorney General and is in fact one of the 16 pieces of legislation there. He pointed out that it has been placed on a priority list and is expected to follow the Disability legislation.
The HIV/AIDS legislation is expected to address other legislations, such as anti-discrimination, which associated with employers and employees. These must also be built to move the process forward, the minister noted.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health is focusing its attention on the recently concluded National Week of Testing.
According to the minister, it is anticipated that a special bulletin will be released by tomorrow unveiling the ministry’s recorded HIV/AIDS statistics.
According to the minister, the statistics will reveal general information on the virus, including that of special sections of population, such as pregnant women and children. He pointed out that the overall infection rate is on the downward trend.
“In 2001, about 38 per cent of children born to HIV pregnant women would have been born with HIV, so the children themselves got infected. For every 100 pregnant women who were also HIV positive, 38 children were born with HIV. Today, this has dropped to under five per cent…” the minister proclaimed.
And as part of the observance of World AIDS Day on Monday, the minister noted that every citizen should recognise that they have a role to play, even as the minister and his colleagues continue to not only promote messages, but also to introduce interventions.
As part of the ministry’s plans for the observance of World AIDS Day, a Health Fair will be held today on the Camp Street Avenue between Quamina and Middle Streets.
The Health Fair will involve several departments of the Ministry of Health and several other organisations, and will be followed by a grand concert which will see performances from local top artistes the likes of Tamika Marshall, Edward Neblett and Jessica Xavier who, according to the minister, have joined with the Ministry of Health to educate and build awareness around HIV/AIDS.
The aim of the event is to provide a friendly and organised environment that will provide edutainment for youths, offer condom demonstration, accommodate drama presentations by the Merundoi Street Threatre, rapping HIV messages from the National AIDS Programme Secretariat with the entity’s talented rappers and DJs Selector Face and Bevaughn.
Designing T-Shirts with HIV messages as well as face painting will be done free of cost.
More importantly, the health fair will have available to all visiting the booth free dental check-ups, hypertension testing, diabetes testing, blood pressure testing, HIV testing, breast self examination demonstration, videos on the HIV life cycle. Among other information on chronic diseases, tuberculosis, nutrition, drug reduction, adolescent health information and first aid will be available.
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