Gender and HIV/AIDS Coordinators Comment on rape incident
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter, SKNVibes.com
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| Nadine Caines, Prevention and Education Officer, Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating office. |
Charlestown, Nevis: Reverend Salome James, Coordinator Gender Affairs, Ministry of Social Development, in Nevis and Nadine Caines, Prevention and Education Officer in Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit, has responded to the recent rape incident.
Rev. James told SKNVibes.com in an interview that she was encouraged by the Police Officers’ quick response in apprehending a suspect. Seemingly affected by the incident, Rev. James said; “Our homes which we have established and should feel comfortable in, it would appear are no longer safe. I do not like burglar bars but this may be what society is coming to.”
Rev. James also mentioned that single women who live alone must take precautions. “You may feel safe but take necessary precautions… Keep security lights on…Lock your doors… If you hear anything alert someone.
The Reverend explained that contrary to popular belief, rape has nothing to do with sexual act or affection, “It has everything to do with violence. It is a man violating the privacy of a woman.” She also called on mothers to orient their daughters early enough to take precautions.
Ms. Nadine Caines Prevention and Education Officer, Nevis said a raped victim must have an HIV/AIDS test done right away to establish the survivor’s status before the incident of rape. Caines hopes that there are protocols to test suspected rapists of their HIV status as well.
“In case a survivor tests negative immediately after the attack, the survivor has to undergo another test after three months and another test after six months since the day of the attack to reconfirm the negative status,” Caines explained.
According to universal HIV/AIDS guidelines, the HIV antibody test does not detect HIV. Antibodies take time to form. Nearly everyone who is infected with HIV will have antibodies detected by 3 months after infection. ~~Adz:Right~~
Caines also said that a rape survivor should immediately get an anti-retroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent vaginal transmission of HIV. PEP is a treatment used shortly after a person has been exposed to HIV in order to inhabit infection. The treatment is designed to reduce (but not eliminate) the possibility of infection with the virus after a known exposure.
