Letter of the Day | Addressing HIV cannot be in isolation

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A recent lecture by Dr Richard Amenyah, director of the UNAIDS Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, as part of the Department of Government’s UN @ 80 series, was enlightening and urgent.

Dr Amenyah emphasised that UNAIDS is not just a global institution operating in distant capitals; it is active here in our communities, in our healthcare centres, in our conversations. The UN’s work touches everyday lives, through health programmes, gender-equity efforts, global partnerships and access to education. More specifically, in our region the HIV epidemic remains a critical feature of that work.

The history of the HIV/AIDS crisis is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of global indifference. When the crisis first emerged, it was prominent among homosexual men in Europe, but it quickly spread. However, after nearly two decades of global struggle, the first effective antiretroviral treatment became available in the mid-1990s, transforming HIV from being fatal to being manageable.

Unfortunately, rich countries refused to provide Africa with access to the life-saving medication, resulting in the deaths of 11 million people, a staggering number equivalent to more than Jamaica’s population. The statistics are alarming: every 50 seconds, one person dies of AIDS, and every 25 seconds, someone is infected with HIV. In the Caribbean, 41 people are infected with HIV daily, and close to 15 persons die from it.

What stood out was his argument that addressing HIV cannot be in isolation. This idea resonates in the Caribbean context where, for some, HIV care links closely with other health priorities. We have heard of people living with HIV who are also managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, which shows why health systems need a more connected approach. Dr Amenyah’s lecture challenged us to move beyond awareness towards action.

He invited students to consider contributing by raising awareness; by advocating for equitable access to health services, and by recognising that public health is also an issue of rights, not simply of medicine. This session has changed the way we view the United Nations’ relevance in our region. It is not abstract, it is local, concrete, and pressing.

We are grateful for the lesson from Dr Amenyah, which we hope inspires others to see the connection between global frameworks and our own realities.

ANNADEAN BAILEY

BRIANNA BROWN

Students of The Department

of Government, the UWI, Mona