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Jamaica Revamps HIV/AIDS Treatment Programme

Posted on: Wednesday, 2 November 2005, 12:01 CST

Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 2 November

Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica's health minister, John Junor, says persons living with the HIV/AIDS virus should now find it easier to access antiretroviral drugs provided by the National HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Control programme.

He said this is as a result of a National Health Fund/ Antiretroviral (ARV) tracking system following a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National HIV/STI Control programme and the National Health Fund (NHF).

Junor, addressing the official opening of an Immunology Centre, said that under this system, all persons with HIV and AIDS attending any of the treatment sites, as well as visiting participating private physicians, are required to obtain a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) and register with the NHF through the clinic or physician they visit.

He said the TRN number and registration would indicate the co- payment or exemption from regular fees.

"This will enable the pharmacist to have immediate information about the required co-payment or exemption and thus avoid the need for recurrent assessment," he said.

He said the process of implementation, is being currently hampered by the slow response in receiving completed NHF cards and the difficulty in accessing TRN numbers for those without birth certificates.

Junor also indicated that significant progress had been made in providing antiretroviral (ARV) to adults and children within a programme to ensure adherence and compliance.

Over the past year, a total of 1,246 adults and 141 children were started on ARV and systems are in place to ensure that they comply and adhere to the treatment through 16 treatment sites, officials said.

Meanwhile, "Skills For a Life", an HIV/AIDS and sexual health education programme for young people with learning disabilities has been launched in Jamaica.

The programme is an initiative of 3D Projects, a St Catherine- based community rehabilitation service dedicated to the development of persons with disabilities, with support from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

It is geared towards providing information on HIV/AIDS, relationships, sex and sexuality, safer sex choices and decision making to young persons with intellectual challenges.

In his address at the launch, Managing Director of Projects at 3D Gerlin Bean lamented the lack of information on sexual health for young people with disabilities.

"Children with disabilities are not given the same treatment. We must bear in mind that sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/ AIDS do affect them," she said.

Junior Labour Minister Floyd Morris said the initiative would enhance government's efforts to reach out to the disabled community.

He called for the disabled to be included in all aspects of society, with programmes on sexual education designed for their special needs, as gone were the days of the disabled persons being forced to stay at home and being left in the dark on sexual issues.

"The disabled is entitled to be involved. What we have to do is to educate them. We owe it to give protection to them," Morris stated, pointing to the need for persons with disabilities to be educated about the dangers of unprotected sex and other dangerous sexual practices.

"This project will redound for the greater good of all persons with disabilities across the nation. We are committed to ensuring that it is a success," Morris added.

UNICEF Representative Bertrand Bainvel lauded the programme, noting that it stood to further break down barriers, which prevented disabled persons from accessing the same level of development as able bodied persons.

"The Skills For Life materials contribute to put children in the centre of the response to HIV/AIDS and address the rights and needs of those living with disabilities," he said.

Source: BBC Monitoring Americas

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