Caribbean Must Face Up to AIDS

The Caribbean region has the second-highest rate of HIV infection, after sub-Saharan Africa. Some 1.6 million islanders have the virus, and 600 more are infected daily. In Haiti, the rate among adults is 5%; the percentage in the Bahamas is 4%, compared with less than 1% in the United States.

“The risk of eventually dying from AIDS is well over 50% in some of the communities,” says Peter Piot, executive director of the United Nations AIDS program.

Clearly this crisis calls for a regional solution, but the Caribbean countries are in denial. Another major part of the problem has to do with economics. Because of the poverty of most Caribbean countries, funds allocated for AIDS prevention programs are pathetically low. In no way do the meager budgets for AIDS control reflect the size of the epidemic these countries face.

But to the south there is a point of light--the success story of Brazil. In the 1980s, South America’s largest country had one of Latin America’s highest HIV rates. Now that’s been turned around. Brazilian infection rates have leveled off at 0.6% of its adult population.

What Brazil has done to mitigate AIDS presents a blueprint for success. Working closely with nongovernmental organizations, Brazilian officials have created an aggressive awareness program. Success is due in large part to a free AIDS drug distribution program made possible through an extraordinary partnership between the private and public sectors. To deal with the high cost of AIDS drugs, the government challenged the largest companies operating in the country to supply the medications at low prices, and, so far, the challenge has succeeded.

Public service advertising of the program is key. A condom ad program openly addresses gay relationships and the risks of unprotected sex and risky sexual behavior.

Much more can be done if other nations follow Brazil’s lead. The Caribbean countries need to be frank about the crisis, and they and other nations of the Western Hemisphere should follow suit with financial and informational programs against AIDS. The United States should contribute to the efforts. All the Americas would benefit.