For many Jamaicans, memories of HIV/AIDS as a virtual death sentence, dating back to the 1980s and 90s, remain strong.

To this day, horrific social stigma attached to the disease is a huge problem, slowing efforts to ensure that those who are afflicted get required medical treatment.

Thankfully, down the years, advances in medicine have ensured the development of antiretroviral drugs which suppress HIV viral loads in the human body thereby saving lives and, very importantly, significantly reducing spread.

Hence concern that, according to the 2024 edition of the Economic and Social Survey published by the Planning Institute of Jamaica, only 46 per cent of HIV-positive Jamaicans on antiretroviral treatment were showing viral suppression at the end of last year.

Presumably, that’s because, for whatever reason, many were not taking the treatment as prescribed, if at all.

According to our story published Thursday, while most Jamaicans with HIV — estimated by the United Nations at 30,000 — know their status, a relatively significant number are believed to be unaware.

In such circumstances, there is clear need to step up testing of high-risk segments of the population, including homeless people, drug users/addicts, female sex workers, and men who have sex with men.

Given progress down the years, we believe it is still possible for Jamaica to manage and contain the spread of HIV and even end the epidemic by 2030, in line with a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

But for that to happen there must be the will and commitment by all stakeholders.

In that regard we applaud the charity group Mustard Seed Communities and their partner, Kiwanis Club of North St Andrew, in breaking ground on Tuesday for a transitional hostel for young men, aged 16-25, who were born with HIV.

They had been orphaned either by the death or abandonment of their parents.

Construction of the facility, which was first decided on four years ago but suffered delays, is now set to be completed in three months at a cost of $22 million.

We note the pledge by governor of Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District (ECC) of Kiwanis International Pamela Rodney-White: “…Each child who walks through these doors, this home, will be able to say, ‘I am not forgotten, I am loved, I am seen and I feel valued.’ We know that the ongoing support to these young men will not be just in steel and mortar, but in mentorship, care, and advocacy.”

Also, the faith and commitment of the Christian-based, non-profit Mustard Seed Communities is beyond admirable.

We are told that the organisation operates three homes in Jamaica for individuals living with HIV under its Dare to Care programme. They are Matthew 25:40, a home for 20 teenage boys; Martha’s House, a home for 25 children; and Dare to Care, a home for 15 teenage girls.

Father Garvin Augustine, executive director of Mustard Seed Communities, told Tuesday’s ground-breaking function, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains, you can move oceans… I remember back when this project was conceived we all thought, ‘yeah, this is going to happen in a few months, maybe a year,’ and it has been how long now? A while…”

That’s a wonderful example of patience and fortitude for the rest of us.