Garth Minott | Living with HIV/AIDS, COVID-19

HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS ) have been around for well over 50 years and continue to infect and affect the lives of millions of people around the world. Next to sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world with Jamaica having a prevalence rate of close to 2.0 per cent. While there is comprehensive understanding and appreciation of its treatment, there are enduring factors, including religious and cultural norms, that are to be taken into account as we continue to grapple with HIV and AIDS. This is even more challenging as the global community deals with the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Caribbean and Latin America, for example, both HIV and COVID-19 are driven by numerous factors, including cultural norms and myths. In the case of HIV, these range from having sex with a virgin to cure sexually transmitted infections, using the same utensils, or sitting on the same chair. Myths, such as vaccines is a mark of the beast, with reference drawn from the Bible such as Rev 13:16, and vaccines to treat COVID-19 are harmful to human beings, especially children, continue to gain traction in social media and in the minds of thousands of persons. At the same time, COVID-19 is spreading and is shaping up to be around for some time.

Persons infected with HIV and COVID-19 experience a wide range of emotions. These include fear, anxiety, doubt, anger, bitterness, and a sense of betrayal. HIV which causes AIDS poses a challenge to both the infected and affected as families are stigmatised and, depending on the context, are subject to violent reactions by members of communities. Though these actions have been drastically reduced over time, there are still signs that they exist in some places. Similarly, those who are either infected or perceived to be infected by COVID-19 are often stigmatised in the family and community. This is further complicated by the general sense of fear which is pervasive in the society. It is in this sense that we take into account the incident in western Jamaica, shortly after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. A man is reported to have sneezed on a bus carrying passengers whereupon he was removed from the bus, physically assaulted and left on the side of the road. Such infringement of the human right of the victim is commonplace in both pandemics.

SUPPORT FOR ALL

With the common denominators of stigma, discrimination and violence standing in the way of treating HIV and COVID-19, a focus on education and sensitisation are of paramount importance. This requires communities and institutions that are willing to provide vital services and support for all concerned, especially the most vulnerable. Of course, if stigma and discrimination are to be addressed in a wholesome and efficient way then urgent intervention taking into account both pandemics is critical. For this reason, well-known African-American pastor, theologian and spiritual writer Howard Thurman emphasises the importance of reverence for persons in which people are respected for who they are and not on the basis of an infection. A very good illustration is provided by Thick Nhat Hanh, well-known Buddhist and Vietnamese monk who compares respect for people with growing lettuce. He says if a lettuce is growing bad, the farmer does not blame the lettuce but redouble efforts to ensure the environment and nutrients are monitored in order to produce the best outcome. Similarly, people living with COVID-19 and/or HIV are not lesser humans due to infection. Rather, they are beset with challenges to positive growth and development which requires the community to work together at all times for their health and wellness.

Health and wellness of senior citizens was evident in the COVID-19 pandemic. From very early those who are 60 years and older were advised to stay at home as the number of persons who were hospitalised and dying were predominantly from this age group. For this reason, steps were taken to protect the vulnerable by closing schools so children, though they are largely immune from getting seriously ill and dying from the virus, had to be protected so as to prevent them transmitting the infection to their elderly family members. Prevention also became the buzzword when targeting a different age group for HIV infection as data shows it is the age group 15-25 that is most at risk. In addition, poverty, unemployment (especially among women), gender-based violence (GBV), stigma and discrimination continue to provide fodder for increased vulnerability to HIV and AIDS. Indeed, though men and boys are victims of GBV, the disabled, hearing and sight impaired, women and girls experience extremely high rates of violence and represent the most vulnerable groups.

To address GBV and other maladies in the context of COVID-19 and HIV and AIDS, the United Theological College of the West Indies, which trains persons for ordination and leadership in the Caribbean, partnered with the World Council of Churches, an ecumenical institution based in Geneva, to implement the Out of the Shadows training and sensitisation programme in 2021. Designed to foster and facilitate safe spaces, including those in which children and adults worship, the programme aims to utilise an approach which focuses on respect for persons. Pastors and other church leaders from across the region came together in the virtual space to sensitise and build awareness among a cohort of religious leaders from across the Caribbean. Leaders addressed issues of child abuse and exploitation and were trained to deliver sensitisation and awareness sessions on child abuse, including ways to make places of worship safer spaces for children and other victims of abuse.

By turning the spotlight on prevention, this training focused on taking steps to address COVID-19 and HIV and AIDS. From these interventions, we learn that the common denominators of fear, stigma and discrimination in the context of a myriad of other problems can be adequately addressed. At the same time, we have gained insights that the wearing of a mask and using condoms are safe ways to protect ourselves as well as others as we learn to live with viruses that threaten human life and well-being. Indeed, if we learn nothing from the past we learn that the past has a lot to teach us about how to live with pandemics, as they could be around for a very long time.

Canon Garth Minott is deputy president of the United Theological College of the West Indies. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com .