Community Participation Towards Eradication
Chelsea Stubbs
B.E.S.T. Institute
Several years ago, when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that it takes a village to raise a child, she was ridiculed by Republicans who believe it only takes a family to raise a child (Source: Ten Things You Cannot Say In America by Larry Elder). Now, we live in a very complex world where everything is interrelated and what happens in one community affects what happens in others. It takes the participation of the entire community to achieve success. AIDS (acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome) has devastated many of our communities over the past two decades. Through education, via television, internet, flyers and school visits, the word is out that “AIDS KILLS.”
Free condoms, placed in strategic locations, in stores and day to day business places, can help reduce the population of infected persons. Condoms should be free of cost, because many people are struggling to even maintain themselves. The Department of Health and Human Services should take responsibility for ensuring that the easy access condom bowls are restocked on a regular basis.
With adequate treatment, mother to child transmission is almost entirely preventable. Some people are afraid to seek treatment because their family might discover their HIV status and abandon them. Being aware the AIDS is spread primarily through exchange of bodily fluids, especially during sexual activity, many people protect themselves through the use of condoms during sex. Others abstain from any sexual behaviour whatsoever.
Organizations such as National AIDS Program and Rap Port can be credited with reducing the incidences of AIDS infections. Through education, providing easy access to condoms and convincing government to increase funding for AIDS medications the population of infected persons will decrease. If these efforts continue, we will achieve ultimate victory by putting an end to AIDS infections in he Turks and Caicos Islands by getting to zero.