Aids Action Foundation Launched in Saint Lucia

Contact: Dana Augustin

Tuesday, November 28, 2000 -The Aids Action Foundation (AAF) was launched Tuesday at the Indies Conference Room. The non-government organization was legally established in September this year with the intention of helping to reduce the spread and impact of the HIV virus and Aids in Saint Lucia.

The AAF’s President and co–founder, Dr. Marie Grandison Didier, suggests that despite the alarming statistics of persons infected with the HIV virus and AIDS, many persons are still insufficiently aware of the severe societal effects of this deadly disease. "AIDS is considered to be one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. It caused 3 million deaths world wide in 1999 and 34 million people world wide live with the virus. Here in the Caribbean 360, 000 people are living with HIV and the Caribbean Basin and South America accounted for 57,000 people infected with the virus in 1998. In our small Caribbean islands over 150 people per month die from HIV and AIDS," Dr. Didier reports.

She stresses that the population does not understand HIV disease and AIDS and that there are still people here in Saint Lucia who say that HIV and AIDS do not exist. Dr. Didier says the AAF is committed to, and can help to, disseminate culturally relevant information, to bridge the knowledge gap.

Health care professionals agree that AIDS is not just a health problem and the slogan of the AAF which reads, "While we may not be infected, we will all be affected" reflects that message. Health Minister Honourable Sarah Flood–Beaubrun who addressed the launching ceremony agrees. "Whereas we accept that essentially it presents itself as a health problem and social problem, we know the world over there are so many days of work lost. Countries and economies are suffering because the people who are supposed to be the real productive arm of the country cannot afford to produce," she notes.

The Health Minister appealed to the public to help remove the stigma associated with the disease suggesting that unless that is done, "all we are doing is driving the epidemic underground, resulting in more and more reluctance, resulting in more and more fear of people coming out to be tested and that means of course that we will forever under estimate exactly what the number of cases are here in Saint Lucia."

Statistics show that from 1985 until now Saint Lucia has officially registered 264 HIV positive cases. Of this number 136 persons have already developed AIDS and 120 have died from AIDS related illnesses. Additionally, the statistics show that 64% of all these cases are persons between the ages of 21 – 44 years of age.

The new Aids Action Foundation is being viewed as a critical step forward in educating the population especially young people, about this disease. Key members of the AAF include the National Youth Council, the Saint Lucia Association for the Prevention of AIDS, Saint Lucia Planned Parenthood Association, the Folk Research Centre, the Saint Lucia Red Cross and representatives from the Ministry of Health and other government ministries.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Search for 2000 Press Releases ] [Site Help]

© 2001 Government Information Service. All rights reserved.

Read our privacy guidelines.