Inspired by Lady Allen’s speech on HIV/AIDS

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I was moved reading The Gleaner report on Lady Allen’s recent speech as she shared her experience working as a nurse in the USA, and caring for patients infected with HIV/AIDS during the 1990s. Lady Allen spoke at a conference commemorating World AIDS Day in Kingston. I think we should use more persons of influence to help to drive change in Jamaica about social causes that matter. First, I had no idea that Lady Allen, wife of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, was a former nurse who worked with persons living with HIV/AIDS. It is not very often we hear her speak, usually the focus is on her husband, the governor general. Lady Allen spoke about her training as a nurse, and how she was trained not to try to understand how a person got infected, but focus on how to make them whole again. Indeed, medical professionals are trained that it is about the care, not the stigma nor judgement. It is unfortunate that many professionals continue to focus on the stigma, due to lack of awareness. Diseases are conditions that can affect anyone.

TIMELY MESSAGE

Lady Allen also spoke about being stuck by needles while caring for patients and having to take medication and get tested, to ensure that she wasn’t infected. She shared a personal experience about a family member, who 30 years ago contracted the disease, and how, as a family, they came together to care for and support the person financially and otherwise; and that the person is alive and well today 30 years later owing to the advances in medicine, etc. I am sure Lady Allen’s faith played a pivotal role in her care and duty to be compassionate and understanding of others in need.

I think her message was timely and may help to improve awareness which can transcend to other causes. It is reported that some 30 million persons globally are living with HIV. Fortunately, today most live normal, healthy lives. We must continue the message of prevention and care. In the ‘90s, I recall hearing of someone who contracted the disease. His mother, also a person of faith, dropped everything to provide around-the-clock care for her son, who eventually passed away. After his death, she volunteered her time, in his memory, in a hospice to help care for others suffering from this disease.

Thank you, Lady Allen, for sharing your experience. Sharing is indeed caring, and sometimes it matters more when we hear it from someone of importance.

P. CHIN

chin_p@yahoo.com