Dear Editor,

I note with interest the recent conversations in both traditional and social media landscapes about the increase in HIV infections among the nation’s young people.

It has been interesting to see the response from the public whenever the conversation of HIV arises. It’s been four decades since we have been navigating HIV waters as a country, and stigma and discrimination have been one of the consistent drivers of the epidemic.

The HIV Stigma Index 2.0 (2020) indicates that 33 per cent of people living with HIV experience some form of HIV-related stigma or discrimination at various levels of society. More specifically, 63 per cent of the cases of HIV-related discrimination collected in 2022 occurred within communities across the island. This is an age-old issue that continues to deter access to treatment.

Discrimination is a learned behaviour, and these behaviours are maintained because there are no consequences for discriminatory conduct; therefore, if we desire to reduce the instances of HIV-related discrimination in our society, it would be beneficial to modify our psychosocial environment to foster a space that embodies our motto “Out of many one people”.

The Jamaican Network of Seropositives recommends the following strategies to aid in creating a stigma-free space.

* Enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. Some people may argue that the provision already exists in the constitution; however, the provision only provides for protection based on being male or female, race, place of origin, class, colour, religion, and political opinions. There is no protection from discrimination based on one’s health status.

* Fast-track the enactment of the Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) Bill, 2017. This Bill had been on the table prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we still have not made any progress on the matter.

* In such a sexualised society there is need for a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education programme in Jamaica. This would not just aid in reducing the high levels of stigma, discrimination, and myths around HIV, but it would also increase the sense of personal responsibility and risk perception which would inevitably reduce the number of new infections.

Adopting these recommendations would aid Jamaica in achieving the sustainable development goal of ending HIV as a public health concern by 2030.

Jaemar Johnson

Policy and advocacy officer

Jamaican Network of Seropositives

policyofficer@jasero.onmicrosoft.com