In an effort to improve the well-being of people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, Jamaica AIDS Support has launched a major public awareness campaign against stigma and discrimination.
"We are using popular music, posters, calendars, the Internet, speaking engagements, and several other tools at our disposal to wake people up to the damage they do to individuals, to the community and to the whole country when they stigmatise and discriminate against others because of their HIV status or because they belong to groups who are vulnerable when it comes to transmission of HIV," said Dr. Robert Carr, Jamaica AIDS Support (JAS) executive director.
At a media briefing today, Dr. Carr introduced popular DJ the Informative Historyman and released his latest song, entitled "Positive in Mind; Positive in Spirit," which will be used as the theme song of the campaign, and will be available in record stores throughout the island.
Dr. Carr also gave a demonstration of the new anti-discrimination web page that has been added to the JAS website (www.jamaicaaidssupport.com/humanrights). The web page includes recent case stories of discrimination against JAS client groups, as well as stories of hope, showing how people have helped those who are often ostracised by others. JAS has trained persons across the island to document instances of stigma and discrimination, as well as instances of good treatment of persons living with HIV and AIDS and vulnerable groups.
On the web page, there also is JAS' official position statement on stigma and discrimination, as well as two major studies done on discrimination and stigma in Jamaica.
Dr. Carr said the campaign will address discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS, particularly women and their children, sex workers, and men who have sex with men. Through documentaries, public service announcements, dialogue with different social actors and opinion leaders in Jamaica, JAS will explore the logic of prejudice against these groups in Jamaica and, where possible, intervene to mitigate it.
"For too long, stigma and discrimination have been features of Jamaica's response to the HIV epidemic," Dr. Carr said. "They are major factors driving those who are HIV-positive underground, and preventing people who need services and information from coming forward in a safe and supportive environment."
