TODAY, December 1, 2009, is being observed all around the world as World AIDS Day to raise awareness and focus attention on the Global AIDS Epidemic. At the national level, children and youth alike living with or affected by HIV and AIDS are not always given the care and support they need to thrive.

As such, the National Secondary School’s Council (NSSC) in partnership with the Ministry of Education is proud to be a part of the initiative to raise awareness about the situation of children living or affected by HIV and AIDS and to fight against the level of discrimination and prejudice that they often face. We embrace the theme, YES!… I can help a child living with HIV.

Jamaica has made great progress in reducing HIV infection in children, which, in most cases is as a result of an HIV positive mother passing the virus to her baby during pregnancy, child-birth or breastfeeding.

The National HIV/STI Programme reports that in 2008, 97 per cent of infants born to HIV positive women received anti-retroviral drugs to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child. This has contributed to the reduction of less than five per cent.

Even with these successes, children who are living with HIV or have a family member living with HIV still experience many negative, critical attitudes or harsh reactions from persons in their community, schools and even churches because of continued stigma attached.

Children who are HIV positive or live in a household with an HIV positive family member or caretaker, are more likely to miss school and have low self-esteem.

These are things that increase their risk and vulnerability to sexual abuse, violence, exploitation and crime. Children living with the virus have many practical and material needs but also have social, psychological and emotional ones as well.

It is, therefore, important that emotional care and support is provided to all children affected by HIV.

But what does it mean?

It does not take much — a kind word or action, making sure that they can keep up in class if they miss school or just treating them like everyone else can go a long way. It also means standing up to bullies and people who say stigmatising, scornful and negative things about them and to check our own personal thoughts, words and deeds as well.

Students of Jamaica, join with us on this day as we give our support to improve the lives of vulnerable children who are affected by HIV and AIDS. Join with us as we work to eliminate the stigma attached to HIV, and discrimination being experienced by many of our nation’s children.

For today and beyond let us demonstrate positive, accepting attitudes towards people living with HIV, let us extend empathy and support to families being affected.

We all can unite and give aid to our children living with HIV. Let us play our part in ensuring the protection, care and support of those vulnerable children as we all have the right to be treated equal.

— NSSC