Is Aids Really A Concern?

This was the cartoon in today's Jamaican Observer. I feel that more education needs to be given to the school children at an early age. Not talking about sex is not going to have it go away, In 1991 the Jamaican Aids Soiety was founded. It is the largest Aids, Human Rights, Non Goverment Organization in Jamaica. The JAS currently has 3 chapters, 33 members of staff and over 300 volunteers.

In a recent report from the United Nations Development AIDS programme, of the 27,000 Jamaicans living with HIV, it is estimated that 18,000 are unaware of their status.

Endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Jamaica has now adopted a a National AIDS/HIV workplace policy. The policy it seems will enable countries to screen employees for the virus as a means of preventing the spread of the disease. There is also support for many who have already contracted the disease.

I don't know how I feel about this. Is it and invasion of privacy? Aids still has so many bad stigmas to it. I can imagine and employer who finds out his employee has AIDS or HIV POSITIVE might use this as a means to have them fired or (with the current homophobic atmosphere on the island) place them in danger.

What happens when the investigations turn to the schools? I fear for the young children who already have the virus. Being ostracized is the least of the concerns.

Source: GLEANER