Saint Lucia Observes the 36th commemoration of World AIDS Day

December 1st, 2024 represents the 36th commemoration of World AIDS Day and is an opportunity to reflect on the many persons who have died from AIDS related causes in Saint Lucia, the region and the world. The theme, this year is “Take The Rights Path”. From the start of the AIDS epidemic, about 43 years ago, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated that 78 million persons have become infected with HIV and 35 million persons have died from AIDS related illnesses. According to UNAIDS, the world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected; with human rights at the centre and communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The awareness of human rights is crucial not only to protecting the rights and dignity of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, but also to reducing the vulnerability of all individuals. Human rights can determine the degree to which individuals are protected from HIV infection. A lack of respect for human rights fuels the HIV epidemic and increases its impact. Under international human rights laws and treaties, every person has a right to health and to access HIV and other health care services. Stigma and discrimination based on health status, including HIV, are human rights violations.

Many people continue to face human rights related barriers to essential HIV and other healthcare services. The persons facing those barriers are often the most marginalized, stigmatized and vulnerable to HIV. Therefore, the protection, promotion, respect and fulfillment of people’s human rights are critical to guarantee access to HIV services and enable a continued and effective response to the HIV epidemic. Discrimination of people living with HIV has deprived them of basic human rights that other people, including other patients, enjoy.

Saint Lucia has been a member of the United Nations General Assembly since September 18, 1979 and follows the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The right to confidentiality is important and Article 12 of the Declaration speaks to this. Article 16 (1) states that “everyone has the right to marry and found a family.” All persons living with HIV have the right to have children and in Saint Lucia medication is available, that women living with HIV who are pregnant, can take to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to their unborn child. Another basic human right is the right to treatment and Article 25 (1) states that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services”. Saint Lucia has available, comprehensive treatment, care and support which includes access to antiretroviral therapy and other medicines, diagnostics and treatment for related opportunistic infections.

Currently, there are just under 1000 thousand persons living with HIV in Saint Lucia. Of those persons, only 284 are actively collecting their antiretroviral medication. Those 1000 are the known diagnosed cases of HIV. There are persons who are undiagnosed and thus, unaware of their HIV status and anyone who is sexually active, is at risk for contracting HIV and any other sexually transmitted infections. Sixteen persons died from AIDS related causes in 2023. Just think, an HIV positive person can be you, your child, your parent, your sibling, your spouse, your friend or your co-worker; anyone! As we reflect on Taking the Rights Path for World AIDS Day 2024, consider this, by protecting everyone’s right to health, through ensuring equity in service provision and eliminating stigma and discrimination, we can achieve an AIDS free Saint Lucia.