THE EDITOR, Madam:
WHEN I read the piece titled "Gov't ignores anti-AIDS plans" in the September 24, publication of the Sunday Gleaner, I couldn't help but say out loud, "Here we go again". The policy-makers had not adopted any of the 12 policy recommendations that the National AIDS Committee made four years ago. This is exactly the sort of reactive, insular, retro-thinking that has allowed this HIV/AIDS epidemic seemingly free rein in the first place.
Why is no one taking notice of what Dr. Raymoth Notice has to say? He has effectively stated that the prisons have in fact become one of the breeding grounds/incubators of the HIV virus which causes AIDS.
It took me all of 16 years to 'accumulate' 12 HIV positive patients and over the past year alone I have 'accumulated' a further 12! This is a shocking (albeit restricted) finding. I am only one General Physician, I dread to think what is going on in the wider community. When the virus goes into that system it is being allowed to incubate, mutate, multiply and (to quote Dr. Notice) "inmates are leaving with the disease and taking it back to their communities."
I know that many people are seeing the prison inmates as 'them' and the rest of the people on the outside as 'us'. This is the same reasoning that got 'us' into this HIV epidemic mess in the first place. There is no 'them' and no 'us', there is only (to borrow a Jamaican phrase), 'All ah wi'. We are all in this thing together. Do not make the fatal mistake of thinking that it is a 'prison' problem it is our problem. We are more intertwined than anyone realises. I can personally guarantee that whatever happens in the custodial institutions will affect all of us very soon.
All sexually active people are at risk. The replicating potential of the virus is further enhanced by those who engage in risky sexual practices, like casual sexual intercourse, multiple partners, homosexuality and unprotected sexual intercourse. This virus also finds unlikely allies in ignorance and policy-makers who hold steadfast to principles that (although commendable and 'politically correct') are not practical, realistic or functional.
Let's face the regrettable fact that celibacy within the prisons cannot be assured. People are going to engage in prison 'relationships' whether we like it or not. No amount of righteous indignation or moral outcry will dissuade them. It is also impossible to observe each and every inmate each and every minute of each and every day. The revised measures recommended by the National AIDS Committee must be instigated even if they may seem somewhat radical. These professionals know precisely what they are doing we need to trust them. This virus aggressively takes advantage of every opportunity that presents itself and so should we.
I am etc.,
DR. GARTH A. RATTRAY
E-mail: akhnaton@cwjamaica.com
10 Coliston Drive
Kingston 10
