St. Lucia moves to take down AIDS

Contact: Janelle Charles

November 6, 1998 - The Ministry of Health is to draft a 5 year Plan of Action to arrest the spread of HIV/AIDS in St. Lucia. This forms part of activities to observe November as AIDS awareness month.

Since the first reported case in 1985, the number of persons infected with HIV/AIDS has increased to 216 at the last count in September 1998. Local physician at the Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Dr. Phillip Atigre says St. Lucia is still in a position to limited the spread of AIDS. Dr. Atigre is suggesting that the proposed five year plan should place emphasis on public awareness and look in detail at sexually transmitted diseases, methods of protection and the advantages of testing regularly for STD’s.

Given the exorbitant cost of treating persons infected with HIV/AIDS it is cost effective for St. Lucia to concentrate on preventative measures rather than on treatment.

Activities in observance of Aids Awareness Month culminates with a Youth Convocation on World AIDS Day which is December 1.

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