Volunteer upbeat about helping persons with HIV, Report reveals the danger of multiple partners
Published:Wednesday | December 1, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Laura Redpath, Senior Gleaner Writer
Karen* stresses that she is available any day, at any time, to assist persons who are living with HIV/AIDS.
One of her personal mandates is to accept phone calls once they come in.
"Last year when I was on leave, I called the organisation and asked what programme they had that I could be involved in, and they told me about World AIDS Day (today, December 1)," she told The Gleaner.
"I was very glad to join, because I've always wanted to help people, and I'm here all the time. They can always call up on me for driving or anything else. I'm always available."
Karen has been a volunteer with Jamaica Aids Support for Life for the last two years, and works with the team to promote events taking place during the week leading up to World AIDS Day.
One of her duties as a volunteer is to make calls for sponsorship of World AIDS Day events.
"People are warm when I call," she said, noting that persons are willing to assist where necessary.
Her real passion, she said, is to help as much as she can for as long as she can.
"I also advocate for persons living with HIV/AIDS," she said.
According to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session country progress (UNGASS) 2010 report on Jamaica, approximately 27,000 persons were believed to be infected with HIV in 2008 and half of them were unaware of it.
The report stated that "higher prevalence" is found among crack/cocaine users, inmates, sex workers and gay men.
High-risk behavioural traits also included having multiple sex partners, "high levels of transactional sex", and having sex at an early age.
The report also noted that poverty, gender disparities and homophobia contribute to the continued transmission of HIV.
Troubling trends
A national survey that was carried out in 2008 showed that more than one third of sexually active persons had more than one partner within a year.
Data gathered between 1982 and 2008 showed that just over 20 per cent of respondents reported having sex with a sex worker.
The National Composite Policy Index 2010 drew attention to laws in Jamaica that hinder the development process on the matter of HIV/AIDS.
The UNGASS report, which was submitted by the National HIV/STI Programme in March, cited buggery legislation as one such hurdle.
"Sodomy continues to be illegal, and persistent fears of being subject to discrimination continue to hamper the implementation of services for some persons at risk," the report read.
*Real name withheld for privacy.
'I was very glad to join, because I've always wanted to help people, and I'm here all the time.'