Margaret Michaud Cayman Aids Foundation Programme Coordinator

By Mwangi Ngamate
mwangi@caymannetnews.com

World AIDS Day is on Monday, 1 December and will be observed in the Cayman Islands with activities including a ‘dress down day.’

The Cayman AIDS Foundation (CAF) is asking people to “wear red to make a statement of concern and passion for the infection that is the fastest growing around the world,” said Margaret Michaud, CAF Programme Coordinator.

The Caribbean is the region with the second-highest rate of HIV infection in the world, with Africa having the highest.

The CAF is organising a host of other local activities around the observation of World AIDS Day to raise awareness in the community.

Ms Michaud announced that the CAF would offer one week of free HIV testing starting from 30 November.

She said the foundation will also be selling wristbands and red ribbons for $5 and $2.50, respectively, to raise funds for CAF projects, which include year-round education programmes in schools and the wider community.

The foundation is also hosting a fundraising walk/run in recognition of World AIDS Day on Saturday, 29 November.

The walk will start at the Seven Mile Beach public beach with registration beginning at 6:30 am, the walk at 7:00 am and refreshments at 8:00 am. Adult registration costs $15 and includes a free commemorative T-shirt.

For the international World AIDS Day commemoration on Monday, 1 December, the Cayman Islands will join the global observance with a candlelight vigil at the John Gray Memorial Church in West Bay.
Minister of Health Hon Anthony Eden and CAF President Jennison Nunez will be among the dignitaries speaking at the ceremony.

World AIDS Day has been celebrated annually on 1 December by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the past 20 years.

This year’s World AIDS Day theme is “Take the lead”.

UNAIDS is the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV epidemic, according to the organisation’s website www.unaids.org. UNAIDS’ mission is to lead, strengthen and support an expanded response to HIV and AIDS that includes preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support to those already living with the virus, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.

The worldwide organisation also strives to ensure there is universal access to HIV prevention treatment and care by the year 2010.

HIV is the acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in which the human body’s immune system is suppressed, opening victims up to opportunistic diseases and illnesses that can lead to death.

There is no current cure for HIV/AIDS, although medication can check the progression of the disease.

According to UNAIDS statistics, at the end of 2007 an estimated 230,000 people were living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. Some 20,000 people were newly infected during 2007, and there were 14,000 AIDS-related deaths.

Locally, Ms Michaud said from 1985 to date only 85 Cayman nationals have tested positive for HIV. She attributed the screening of expatriates coming into the Cayman Islands as the primary reason why local infection rates have not been higher.

“Anybody who is willing to know their status will get free testing and we encourage residents to come out in big numbers,” said Ms Michaud.

Anyone wishing to be tested can call 244-2631 to arrange for a confidential HIV test.