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Contact:
Amanda Faye Clarke
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 – Minister for Health and Wellness
Honourable Dr. Keith Mondesir, pledges his commitment to work with the
international community in lifting the ban for the entry of HIV infected people
into certain countries.
This plea for more empathy towards persons infected with HIV, was made days
before Saint Lucia joins the rest of the globe in observing World AIDS DAY on
the first of December.
Dr. Mondesir says there must be a shift in the mindset of everyone, if the
global society has to remain progressive and productive.
“I want everyone to respect people with HIV because they are human beings and
they have to live with us. We know that you can't touch someone and get HIV,
it's a little more than that. We are pleading to those countries that are
employing discriminatory practices by denying those people entrance to their
shores, to desist from so doing.”
Dr. Mondesir says he believes it is in the best interest of all, to preserve the
dignity of people living with HIV, as their rights are in fact human rights.
“ We are blessed in Saint Lucia that though we suffer from HIV, we can see a
decline in the number of new cases. This is because we are continually educating
our people. We are asking our people to take the necessary precautions to
control this deadly disease,” Dr. Mondesir said.
St. Lucia's activities in observance of World AIDS Day will be held under the
theme, “Shine Your Lights on Human Rights”.
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