A brief outlook of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean -------------------------------------- Anguilla Review www.anguillareview.blogspot.com December, 2007 HIV/AIDS - Caribbean Spotlight

A brief outlook of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean

--------------------------------------

Anguilla Review

www.anguillareview.blogspot.com

December, 2007

Overview HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HIV Transmission HIV/AIDS Caribbean Statistics

HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus

AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

HIV Transmission

HIV/AIDS Caribbean Statistics

Definitions HIV – Is the virus that causes AIDS AIDS – The disease complex associated with HIV infection. Commonly, lung, throat infections; cancer, herpes and tuberculosis. Acquired means you can get infected with it Immune Deficiency means weakened body response to fight diseases Syndrome are diseases that affect your health

HIV – Is the virus that causes AIDS

AIDS – The disease complex associated with HIV infection. Commonly, lung, throat infections; cancer, herpes and tuberculosis.

Acquired means you can get infected with it

Immune Deficiency means weakened body response to fight diseases

Syndrome are diseases that affect your health

Debunking HIV Transmission Myths HIV is not transmitted by: Mosquitoes Sharing a home Sharing utensils Hugging, eating, sneezing, coughing Saliva, sweat, tears Touching Working with HIV Positive colleagues

HIV is not transmitted by:

Mosquitoes

Sharing a home

Sharing utensils

Hugging, eating, sneezing, coughing

Saliva, sweat, tears

Touching

Working with HIV Positive colleagues

Virus Transmission HIV infection in the Caribbean include: Sexual Contact: male to male, male to female, female to female Sex Workers: Not using a condom Drug Users: Sharing needles

HIV infection in the Caribbean include:

Sexual Contact: male to male, male to female, female to female

Sex Workers: Not using a condom

Drug Users: Sharing needles

Transmission Fluids Body fluids that can transmit the virus: Semen Blood Breast Milk Vaginal Secretions

Body fluids that can transmit the virus:

Semen

Blood

Breast Milk

Vaginal Secretions

The Present Caribbean Situation 230, 000 persons living with HIV/AIDS 17,000 newly infected persons for 2007 11,000 deaths due to AIDS Estimated 30 reported cases in Anguilla

230, 000 persons living with HIV/AIDS

17,000 newly infected persons for 2007

11,000 deaths due to AIDS

Estimated 30 reported cases in Anguilla

Development up to present Free Anti- retro viral medication from government pharmacies Counseling and testing Funding from the Clinton Foundation Regional and International Corporation

Free Anti- retro viral medication from government pharmacies

Counseling and testing

Funding from the Clinton Foundation

Regional and International Corporation

Estimated HIV/AIDS Prevalence Anguilla - 60 Bahamas – 6, 800 Barbados – 2, 700 Dominican Republic – 66, 000 Haiti - 190,000 Jamaica – 25, 000 Trinidad and Tobago – 27, 000

Anguilla - 60

Bahamas – 6, 800

Barbados – 2, 700

Dominican Republic – 66, 000

Haiti - 190,000

Jamaica – 25, 000

Trinidad and Tobago – 27, 000

Difficulties Frequent Migration Stigma Poverty Prejudice Limited availability of HIV/AIDS data Lack of Funding

Frequent Migration

Stigma

Poverty

Prejudice

Limited availability of HIV/AIDS data

Lack of Funding

Recommendation Publish health statistics quarterly Media Campaigns Provide sex workers with condoms Increase funding for HIV/AIDS Programmes

Publish health statistics quarterly

Media Campaigns

Provide sex workers with condoms

Increase funding for HIV/AIDS Programmes

Sources Carec.org UNAIDS.org Avert.org

Carec.org

UNAIDS.org

Avert.org