TODAY, as Jamaicans observe World AIDS Day, the health ministry remains concerned over the low numbers of people turing up at health centres and hospitals to get tested for the HIV/AIDS virus.

The ministry estimates that just about 100,000 people get HIV tests done annually, while at least 15,000 of the estimated 22,000 people living with the disease are unaware of their status.

As a result, health officials, volunteers and members of various civic groups and organisations will spend most of today urging Jamaicans to take the test and determine their HIV/AIDS status, as this knowledge can reduce the spread of the disease.

This thrust is in keeping with Jamaica’s World AIDS Day theme, “Make the Promise – Get tested.”

Dr Peter Figueroa, chief of epidemiology and AIDS and the ministry of health told the Observer yesterday that very few people who have unprotected sex have HIV tests done.

“Majority of them get anxious, and fear paralyses them because they begin to worry about how their family will react and about their jobs in terms of what will happen to them if they have to change it,” he explained.

At the same time, he noted that in order for more people to feel comfortable with getting tested, HIV/AIDS has to be normalised, thereby eliminating stigma and discrimination against people with the virus.

“I am appealing to everyone to avoid loose and negative talk about HIV/AIDS. Instead, show that you are compassionate and caring for person who have HIV/AIDS,” Dr Figueroa said yesterday. He was speaking at the University of Technology HIV/AIDS awareness day.

“If stigma is reduced then more people will come forward and get tested, and it will reduce the number of people that get the disease,” he added.

Furthermore, Dr Figueroa said that testing would not only allow people to know their status, but would give them the opportunity of getting early, and sometimes lifesaving treatment if the tests are positive.

“Once you test positive you can access treatment and care early when it can make a significant difference,” he said, adding that “now we have anti-retroviral drugs in 15 centres across the island”.

In pointing to other reasons why people shy away from getting tested, Dr Figueroa said men, especially, generally tend not to seek medical attention. He also pointed out that another contributing factor to the low test rate is the lack of accessibility to testing facilities in rural communities.

“We do community outreach programmes where we do testing, and it is a hard task to handle the numbers,” he continued.

Yesterday, Health Minister John Junor also emphasised the need for more Jamaicans to get tested.

“With this knowledge we will be in a better position to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Added Junor: “It is important to note that while we are encouraging persons to know their HIV status, that testing must occur on a voluntary basis. No one should be forced to test for job requirements, which will cause them to be excluded from employment,” he warned.

Among the activities planned to commemorate World AIDS Day is the signing of declaration and commitment to eradicate HIV/AIDS related to stigma and discrimination at the Terra Nova Hotel. Additionally, a quilt competition put on by the Jamaica Network of Seropositives (JN plus) as well as an exhibition and concert will take place at the Emancipation Park.

Meanwhile, there will be a candle light vigil in St Mary, a debate competition at the Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville and a commemorative Concert at the Prison Oval in Spanish Town.

There are 22,000 Jamaicans living with HIV/AIDS. The prevalence rate for the disease is 1.5 per cent or 15 in every 1000 people. Meanwhile, between January and March of this year 13 persons died of AIDS each week in Jamaica.

However, the reported AIDS cases in Jamaica during that same period showed a 20 per cent decline compared to 2004.

The World Health Organisations theme for the World AIDS Day is Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise. It was selected based on the need to advocate for the fulfillment of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS which was agreed to in June 2001, when governments unanimously set targets and goals to fight AIDS.