Think those of us who live in the Cayman Islands are immune to HIV and AIDS?
Think again.
The statistics on page 6 of today’s The Observer on Sunday shed light on a worldwide pandemic.
Since the first case of HIV was reported in the Cayman Islands 26 years ago, 98 people have contracted the virus and 35 have died from AIDS locally.
It’s been 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported in our Caribbean region.
Worldwide it is estimated that there are now 33.3 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. HIV/AIDS remains the leading cause of death in the Caribbean among men and women aged 20-59, at 15.7 per cent and 14.5 cent of deaths respectively, according to statistics released last year. But as staggering as the statistics appear, there are also some good numbers to report.
More than 6 million people worldwide were accessing lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment at the end of 2010, up from 5.2 million at the end of 2009. In 33 countries, including 22 in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV incidence fell by at least 25 per cent between 2001 and 2009. In the Caribbean there has been a 40 per cent decline in AIDS-related deaths since 2001.
The National Caribbean-American Health/AIDS Awareness Day 2011 will be held Wednesday with an eye to increasing awareness about the disease, how to prevent it and treatments available.
We hope everyone pays attention, not only on the day, but every day.
HIV is spread primarily by:
Not using a condom when having sex with a person who has HIV. All unprotected sex with someone who has HIV contains some risk. However, unprotected anal sex is riskier than unprotected vaginal sex.
Having multiple sex partners or the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases can increase the risk of infection during sex.
Sharing needles, syringes, rinse water, or other equipment used to prepare illicit drugs for injection.
Being born to an infected mother—HIV can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding.
HIV cannot reproduce outside the human body. It is not spread by: Air or water; insects, including mosquitoes; saliva, tears, or sweat; casual contact like shaking hands or sharing dishes; nor closed-mouth or “social” kissing.
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