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World Aids Day Bahamas: Know your status... Get tested
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World AIDS Day:
By Sasha L. Lightbourne -
Nassau, Bahamas:


Today is World Aids Day and it is the focus of the National AIDS programme to make sure that all individuals know what their status is.

In a bold step to highlight the importance of the initiative, Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis and newly appointed US Ambassador Ned Siegel got publicly tested at the AIDS office in Victoria Gardens yesterday.

Director of the National AIDS Programme Dr. Perry Gomez said the purpose of the public testing is to help encourage persons in the community to have their status known.

"Last year, we had a ‘Know Your Status’ Campaign encouraging the public at large to get tested and know whether you are HIV positive or not," said Dr. Gomez. "Its only if you know you status can something be done in a meaningful time to change the course of HIV infection."

Dr. Gomez explained that it is absolutely important for persons to get tested so that prevention and control of HIV can take place.

"We wish to commend our Minister, Minister Minnis, and the US Ambassador Ned Siegel for taking this giant step forward in our public relations and public education to do likewise," said Dr. Gomez.

Dr. Minnis said that he was more than honoured to get his test done.

"I normally would do my annual physical examination in January but since I have come into office I made a national commitment to do it in November."

He said, "The message I want to send out is that individuals need not be afraid to get their test done because as Dr. Gomez had pointed out, once you know your status that is one method of decreasing and combating AIDS from spreading."

Dr. Minnis explained that in the Bahamas there was a very high infant transmission rate until the antenatal treatment was introduced.

"There was a decrease from maternal infant transmission to 30% to less than 0.5% so all of our maternity patients are tested," said Dr. Minnis. "I’d like to encourage all persons to have their test done."

Dr. Minnis said the test may be frightening initially but once one lives a safe life there is nothing to worry about.

Ambassador Siegel said he was honoured to have this opportunity to get tested.

"I’d like to thank the Minister for coming today in being my blood brother in this endeavor because it’s an important endeavor," said Ambassador Siegel.

Mr. Siegel said that knowing your status is what it is all about.

Mr. Siegel said, "An amazing statistic is that there are 33 million people worldwide infected with the HIV/AIDS and only 25% know that they are infected.

He added, "25 million people don’t know they are infected."

Mr. Siegel explained that it is all about education and choices.

"It is about respect for the people that you are having a relationship with," said Mr. Siegel. "So many people have lost their lives to AIDS."

"Talented people who have left us who could have enriched society. So today being part of this, and understanding this, is an honour," said Mr. Siegel.

Mr. Siegel said, "90% of persons infected is through heterosexual activity in the Bahamas. The relationship between husband and wife, and boyfriend and girlfriend is very important."

Mr. Siegel added, "The stigma and discrimination that occurs in relationship to HIV/ AIDS is something that we need to understand and work through because it is through the education, taking your test and knowing your status that will make a difference worldwide and will help stop this scourge."

December 1, 2007 | 6:26 PM Comments  0 comments

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