Dear Editor,

 Jamaica AIDS Support for Life wishes to go on record to publicly lend its support to the Food For Poor, as well as challenge recent claims made by Members of Parliament Mikael Phillips and Leslie Campbell.Over the years, the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life has often partnered with Food For the Poor for access to housing solutions for clients most vulnerable. To date there have been no complaints regarding the quality of the houses provided.Since its inception in 1991, the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life has been supporting those most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS through prevention, public education, and access to medication and other support services.The cyclical nature and inverse relationship between HIV prevalence and socio-economic status has been observed to affect those at the lower socio-economic strata when one examines levels of education, poverty, annual household income, employment, and homeless status. It is on that basis that Food For the Poor must be congratulated for its work and support to the poorest Jamaicans over the years.Since being founded, in 1982, Food For the Poor has constructed over 42,000 housing units for beneficiaries in need of housing solutions, among whom are people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. The organisation has also distributed containers of aid to the poor and supported hospitals, hospice care, and other HIV/AIDS facilities throughout the Caribbean region by providing food, medicine, medical equipment, personal care items, furniture, and medical supplies.The Jamaica AIDS Support welcomes the prime minister’s support for Food For the Poor and urges Members of Parliament to be cautious in their criticisms and demonstrate greater levels of gratitude. We also make a call for the Government of Jamaica to implement increased and improved social protection and housing solutions for Jamaica’s most vulnerable. 

Jamaica AIDS Support for Life

www.jasforlife.org