Enjoy Más responsibly
VINCYMAS the Great Escape is here and with it comes some unwelcome, though not exactly unexpected news. From the Ministry of Health comes word of an increase in cases of HIV across St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The associated warnings come not a minute too late. Carnival is a time of riotous excess associated with bacchanal which derives its name from the Greek god Bacchus, the god of wine. Put those two together and you got the ready-made ingredients which set the stage for wild, wanton, and irresponsible behaviour. That might probably be considered as ideal for great sexual enjoyment that some may see as a demonstration of their freedom, but not necessarily of the most responsible kind.
And it is precisely this which the health officials are speaking to. The ministry warns both responsible behaviour and also HIV screenings. For revellers in the heat of the carnival action, their Great Escape, as this year’s VincyMas is dubbed, can surely be enjoyed responsibly.
The Ministry of Health has said it has noted “a concerning increase in new HIV infections, particularly spiking among young adults ages 25-29, adolescents, and among men aged 60 and older”.
This suggests that there has been a complete relaxation of caution among sexually active persons- they have decided to ‘let their hair down’ and ‘throw caution to the wind’.
This may be because we rarely see or hear media reports of persons dying from HIV/Aids these days.
In fact, many have come to accept that HIV is no longer a death sentence, as a result of the ease of access to treatment protocols, and therefore have simply been carrying on as though all is well.
Our health authorities are therefore advising a change in behaviour. Testing is readily available and is encouraged to ascertain one’s health status and to allow for antiretroviral therapy if there is a positive HIV diagnosis. And, if the test results are positive, then the next step to scrupulously adhere to the treatment protocols to not only preserve one’s own health, but reduce the possibility of transmission to others.
But even beyond that, the advice is for the consistent and correct use of condoms with any new or casual partners; in fact, the preferred advice usually given is to not indulge in casual sex. Sex is too often a taboo subject but persons need to be honest with themselves and exercise extreme caution if they choose to not heed the advise to abstain, or to engage sexually with a single, trusted partner.
This carnival season creates an atmosphere of heightened sexuality, what with the suggestive, even downright lewd lyrics of songs, the skimpiness of carnival costumes by females particularly, and the readily available and excesses in the consumption of alcohol in what Soca singers have dubbed the ‘Rum Nation’. But the onus is on both sexes to exercise responsible sexual conduct especially at this time.
Carnival revellers can all enjoy themselves be we must behave responsibly.We cannot allow a week of enjoyment to become a future of worry and medical visits.
The Ministry of Health Health has given the assurance that it stands ready to assist via its HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention Unit or the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, but it will be so much more beneficial, if it does not become necessary to have to seek out this option.
We urge you to enjoy the carnival but please, do so responsibly. A stitch in time, can certainly prevent a lifetime of regret.
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