Discrimination hurts AIDS fight

CHAIRPERSON of the National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) Angela Lee Loy says the newly established HIV Training Centre will be a success once the high level of stigma and discrimination against infected persons is effectively dealt with.

Speaking at the launch of the TT National Training Centre which will provide training in HIV/AIDS for Health Providers, she said the HIV Human Rights Desk has documented numerous reports of discrimination against persons living with HIV.

The launch was held at the Children’s Hospital at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope and was observed by members of the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training (CHART) Network in Jamaica, Bahamas and Barbados, the University of Washington and other guests via video conference.

Lee Loy said many complaints about discrimination emanate from experiences with health service institutions and with health care providers.

“It is clear the decentralisation process envisioned by the Ministry of Health has not been fully realised, due in part to insufficient training of health care providers,” she said.

Lee Loy added the effort to decentralise the duties of the Health Ministry received a tremendous boost with the opening of the training centre. “With the support and facilitation of CHART and our regional and national partners, we have taken a giant step towards building the capacity of health care providers and key stakeholders to better serve the needs of the infected and affected community,” she said.

Lee Loy added that leadership is a key ingredient in any national response to HIV and AIDS.

“This training centre will be a success if it helps build informed leaders within the health sector and other sectors that can reverse the stigma and discrimination affecting persons living with HIV, whilst improving access, treatment, care and prevention services across the country,” she said.

The Training Centre will be located at the San Fernando General Hospital and classes can be accessed through video conferencing, a move applauded by most during the launch.
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SOURCE:www.newsday.co.tt