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Getting on with Life

Country

Jamaica

Regions

Global, Caribbean

Programme Summary

In September 2006, Jamaica's Ministry of Health launched an HIV anti-stigma campaign, which is aimed at reducing the discrimination that is associated with the disease. Getting on with Life will involve the use of television and radio advertisements, posters and billboards which highlight the voices of HIV-positive Jamaicans in an effort to combat HIV/AIDS stigma and to encourage people to disclose their status to friends, co-workers, families, and neighbours.

Communication Strategies

At the centre of this effort is a focus on the voices of 2 handsome, healthy-looking HIV-positive Jamaicans, Annesha Taylor (a woman) and Ainsley Reid (a man), who "have bravely come forward" to participate in the campaign. Through various mass and printed media, they will speak publicly about their experiences living with the disease.

The strategy here involves communicating the stories of real people grappling with HIV/AIDS in an effort to help Jamaicans understand that the growing number of persons living with the disease "are like you and me, who have their lives to live, and wish to do so free from the stigma of HIV and free from any discrimination that may arise due to their HIV status." TV and radio public service announcements (PSAs) as well as posters and billboards are being used as tools to help offset the fear of stigma and discrimination, which can prevent people from getting tested, seeking treatment, or admitting their HIV status publicly, which can exacerbate the spread of the disease. By putting a "human face" on the disease, the campaign also strives to prevent human rights violations such as people with HIV being turned away from healthcare services, educational institutions, or employment, or being refused entry to foreign countries.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Rights.

Key Points

It is estimated that over 25,000 Jamaicans are living with the HIV virus and - of this number - 15,000 are not aware of their HIV status.

As part of this campaign, the government, through the National HIV/AIDS Control Programme, is providing antiretroviral treatment to some 2,000 Jamaicans living with AIDS. This represents approximately 50% of persons in need of treatment.

Partners

The campaign is funded through grants from the Global Fund for HIV and AIDS.

Contact

Ministry of Health

133 Molesworth St.

P.O. Box 5013

Wellington

New Zealand

Tel: 04 496 2000

Fax: 04 496 2340

birdflu@moh.govt.nz

Pandemic Influenza page on the MoH website



Placed on the Communication Initiative site January 08 2007
Last Updated January 09 2007



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