One of the largest locally-organised workshops on HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination at the workplace, in recent times, was held at the Wallblake Conference Centre in Anguilla on Wednesday this week.
The main thrust of the event was the launching of Project Hope, an initiative of the Anguilla Community Action Network (ACAN), with sponsorship by the Governor’s Office. The workshop, which had as its theme “Helping Our People to Elevate”, focused largely on the human rights of persons in Anguilla living with HIV/AIDS.
The objectives of the workshop were outlined as follows: developing strategies for elimination of stigma in the workplace; outlining the workplace rights of HIV positive persons; examining the new workplace policy for infected individuals; the review of roles and responsibilities of ACAN in promoting the rights of HIV positive persons in Anguilla; and creating opportunities and avenues for individuals with HIV./Aids to access legal advice and representation for wrongful termination [of employment].
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ensor Gumbs, observed that the workshop was timely in that stigma and discrimination were still issues of much concern in Anguilla. He stressed that persons living with HIV/AIDS were entitled to all the societal rights and privileges conducive to healthy living and social wellbeing.
ACAN’s President, John Lake, noted that the first case of HIV in Anguilla was discovered in 1988 and that despite a long period of training and awareness relating to the disease, stigma and discrimination remained at a high level. He pointed out that persons inflicted with the disease were no longer under a death sentence, but that there were now opportunities for them to live long and productive lives.
The Special Adviser to the Chief Minister, Patrick Hanley, reported that the Government was considering measures to protect the rights of persons in Anguilla living with HIV/AIDS.
He commended ACAN for its work in the community, its commitment to rid Anguilla of the stigma and discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS and to provide hope for those living with the disease.
Other speakers included Dr Shirmel Browne and Dr Indira Singh-Minott who are attached to the Princess Alexandra Hospital and Kim Cutler of the Governor’s Office.
During the event, there were a number of workshop sessions as follows: an introduction of the objectives of the workshop and of ACAN’s members and stakeholders by JemmisaGraneau-Gumbs, ACAN’s Secretary; HIV and other life-threatening illnesses and workplace policy by Maeza Dennis-Adams, Director of the National AIDS Programme; Labour Laws by Carmencita Davis, Deputy Labour Commissioner; the roles of union representatives in supporting HIV/AIDS positive persons in the workplace by Ursil Webster-Brooks, first woman President of the Anguilla Civil Service Association; care and treatment of infected and affected individuals by Dr Clyde Bryan; and human rights by Katrina Smith, PAHO’s Country Programme Specialist in Anguilla.
