JAMAICA AIDS Support for Life (JASL) on Friday launched its new prevention campaign #LoveItRight!, encouraging individuals to recognise the importance of safe sex practices and condom use, and adopt a holistic approach to health.

JASL, the oldest HIV response organisation in the Caribbean, as part of its ongoing prevention efforts, concluded its three-year-long #DweetSafe campaign in December 2023, marking the transition to #LoveItRight! The fresh campaign is strategically designed to amplify awareness about HIV and to decrease the incidence rate among key populations.

#LoveitRight! emphasises expressing love by fostering monogamous relationships, understanding and communicating health statuses with partners, and practising self-love through timely testing, safe sex practices, or abstinence.

The launch, which took place at Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre in St Andrew, saw close to 200 individuals accessing free HIV and syphillis testing, plus sexual reproductive health and HIV prevention information, courtesy of all three JASL chapters.

Dancers providing entertainment to commuters during the launch of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life’s #LoveItRight! campaign at HalfWay-Tree Transport Centre, St Andrew, last Friday

Guest speaker Dr Richard Amenyah, director of the UNAIDS Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, lauded the campaign as being unique and fitting with what is needed in Jamaica.

Dr Amenyah stated that the campaign’s message underscores the need to take HIV seriously.

“Love it right is simply about making sure your partner is protected. How do you make sure your partner is protected? Remain unique to one partner, stay to one partner, and [you’ll] love it right. If you don’t, then it is a risk, but you make it right by being safe and wearing a condom,” Dr Amenyah said.

“In the Caribbean, every week we have over 300 people getting infected with HIV, and in Jamaica every week we have close to 27 people getting infected. JASL is saying ‘No, we want to stop HIV and AIDS,’ ” he emphasised.

He noted that the Jamaican Government has responded to the need to regard HIV as a serious and threatening issue, adding that despite new infections locally being 27 per week, the number is actually a reduction.

Director of the UNAIDS Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean Dr Richard Amenyah delivers the keynote speech at the launch of JASL’s new prevention campaign #LoveItRight! on Friday, February 9, 2024.

“The Government of Jamaica has done a lot of work in trying to provide information and services to Jamaicans, and the Government has got it right as young people are getting the message. Jamaica has reduced new infections by over 17 per cent,” he shared.

“Jamaica is loving it right and we want to continue to reach people who have not yet got their HIV status or got their test. Don’t leave here [without] having a commitment to love it right,” Dr Amenyah added.

JASL Executive Director Kandasi Walton-Levermore thanked her team for their commitment to HIV prevention and implored the public to heed the call to “love it right”.

She further highlighted the other services available at JASL, including risk reduction counselling, screenings for other STIs, clinic sessions with a doctor and nurse, Pap smears, treatment literacy sessions, PrEP medication, adherence counselling, nutritional counselling, psychological counselling, support groups, home and hospital visits, violence prevention, and response services and referrals.

The event, hosted by Daindra Harrison, also provided entertainment to commuters who took part in a mini football scoring game, cornhole, spinning wheel, and a ring toss game. There was also a dance-off between children and teenagers who were particularly interested in the games, information, education and communication materials available.