BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A local non-governmental organisation (NGO) - Facilitating Access to Confidential Testing, Treatment and Support (FACTTS) - believes that the government should establish a unit to address the issues of stigma and discrimination against people living with and or affected by HIV/AIDS in St. Kitts and Nevis.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, FACTTS President Juliette Fyfield said that such an approach would not only aid in addressing several critical issues but also assists in better educating the public on some of the challenges and difficulties being experienced.
A young lady who is living with the disease said stigma and discrimination is one of the deepest emotional pains faced by people living with HIV/AIDS. She related to some of her personal experiences with close family members, which she said has resulted in her unwillingness to expose her status to close friends.
“If those who should be close family and treating you like this, then how can someone in their right mind think about even confiding in friends and distant relatives,” she asked.
Another woman said that while some members of the public seem very suspicious of her status, she has not confirmed or denied the fact, because she would like to be able to live comfortably and not having anyone treat her with disdain. She said establishing a unit that seeks to address issues of critical importance would significantly improve the manner in which people living with the disease are being treated.
“There are persons within St. Kitts and Nevis who want to use people’s HIV status as a mean of blackmailing and destroying them. It is time that the government establishes a unit that would protect those who are experiencing such inhumane and wicked acts,” she declared.
Former Barbados and OECS PAHO/WHO Representative Dr. Gina Watson said in a past interview that before the introduction of ARVs the fatality ratio of persons living with the virus was seven out of 10. She noted that since the drug was introduced larger numbers of people in different countries living with HIV and AIDS have been identified and this has created an increase in stigma and discrimination.
Dr. Watson expressed the view that the two are “essential drivers” of the epidemic, because the more people feel stigmatised by uninfected persons the more likely they are not going to get themselves tested. She pointed out that such individuals would deny that they are infected.
She stressed the desire to see more work being done in combating the issues of stigma and discrimination, declaring that more effort must be placed on stigma and discrimination if HIV and AIDS are to be properly addressed in the Caribbean.
A young woman living with the disease, who had conducted one-on-one discussions with individuals with the same condition, said there has been a reduction in stigma and victimization but more work in this area is yet to be done.
“I must admit that there have been significant progress and achievements made with the reduction of stigma and discrimination, as today things have gotten better, but I believe that there is still more that needs to be done. We are men and women with the capacity to contribute productively in all aspects of society, and we are entitled to the respect and rights granted to all productive members of the St. Kitts and Nevis society,” she said.
She pointed out that people living with HIV/AIDS are entitled to the right to work; access to education; training; healthcare; freedom from insults, physical abuse and any form of discrimination related to their HIV status. She said that a human rights desk was established in 2007 within the Ministry of Health to address issues of abuse and discrimination.
However, Fyfeild strongly believes that the unit should be placed within the confines of the Legal Aid Department, which currently is located at West Independence Square Street. This, the FACTTS President said, is to ensure that the fear of being stigmatised and discriminated is removed.
She said that since the establishment of the Human Rights Desk there has not been any complaint from persons living with HIV/AIDS, noting it is because of several factors. She said that two of those factors deal with the location and the fear that going to the Ministry of Health may raise concerns and eyebrows.
“People in St. Kitts do not like to get people in their business, and the only way that they would get people involved is if they believe that the person can and would assist them. People no longer want to wait on anything now; so, it is like wanting action immediately…so that is why I believe that people are reluctant to come forward,” she said.
Fyfeild also suggested that it is critically important to strengthen the ability of all persons within the healthcare sector and to provide respectful, confidential and private services to persons living with the disease. She said this is important in order to ensure free and full access to education, training, housing, other social services and insurance for those living with the diseased and or their children.
