In denial about HIV/AIDS, says US Ambassador

Religious ideals are a key obstacle in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in small countries like St Vincent and the Grenadines, believes Mary Ourisman, the United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.{{more}}

In an exclusive interview with SEARCHLIGHT following her two-day visit to this country recently, Ourisman said: “The fact that these are very religious islands is a wonderful thing, but it also means that there is a certain amount of denial.”

“Because people are religious and they don’t want to be seen as being part of the homosexuality in society or having sex with prostitutes, these kinds of things… married men having other relationships, because there is a huge stigma,” she further said.

Ourisman said that the stigma and discrimination that go with these lifestyle choices prevent many people from getting tested because they are afraid that their status could get out and be detrimental to them.

“The educational part (of the fight against AIDS) is huge,” she said.

She commended the United States government for its work in this field, starting with the commitment made by President George Bush through his President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), where he committed US$ 15 billion to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.

While Bush has the unflattering record of having the lowest-ever presidential approval rating for a sitting US president (19 percent- February, 2008), he has come in for some credit for his leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Ambassador, who met with her country’s specialist team which is working with the local Ministry of Health and local Non- Governmental Organizations to work towards halting the spread of the disease here, said that in her opinion, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ size is also a factor in the spread of the disease.

“There is more interaction between the people who know each other already. The sexually active group is smaller. It’s like a spider web. There is more chance for exposure,’ she said.(KJ)