LAST Tuesday, Jamaica -- like many other countries around the world -- commemorated World AIDS Day. This year, the global theme was 'Universal Access and Human Rights' and here in Jamaica, the theme was 'Yes I can... Support someone living with HIV'.

At this time -- just five months before countries, including Jamaica, will have to report on commitments made to achieving Universal Access -- the UNAIDS 2009 report on the epidemic shows that although gains have been made, much more needs to be done. The statistics continue to be grim: 33.4 million people living with HIV; 2.7 million new HIV infections and two million deaths.

Jamaica has had many successes in the response, chief among them has been its treatment programme which has resulted in less persons succumbing to AIDS-related deaths. Since public access to antiretrovirals was made easier in 2004, Jamaica has been seeing significant reductions in the number of people succumbing to AIDS-related illnesses.

In 2007, 320 persons died compared with 514 in 2005. January to June 2008, some 172 persons died as a result of AIDS. Another hallmark of the Jamaica response has been the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme which has cut by more than 50 per cent the number of children born with HIV. But even with these successes, there are a number of areas where the Government and civil society organisations have fallen short, and among those are the human rights and gender components of HIV.

Even though the Jamaica National Strategic Plan 2007-2012 emphasises human rights as the cornerstone to the national response, too many companies still do not have workplace policies, stigma and discrimination continue to dog the health sector and many children continue to be discriminated against in schools and communities.

As we seek to hold Government and civil society accountable to the needs and priorities of those most affected by HIV, the Observer, in partnership with Eve for Life, will embark on a weekly series entitled 'Red Ribbons'. The series will highlight the successes of the HIV response as well as challenges and gaps in the response. And with just five months to go before the next sitting of the UN to look at the progress made by countries, it becomes imperative that persons most affected by the epidemic speak out on issues of concern to them. We look forward to hearing from you the public and that you will find the articles informative.

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