Organization: JASL
Region: Latin America and Caribbean
Nationality: Jamaica
Country: Jamaica
Interests & expertise: HIV treatment
Profession or occupation: Adherence counsellor
What inspires you to work in the HIV field?
The motivation to work in the field of HIV came from personal experience. My aunt had HIV and diabetes. For two years, we had to take care of her and her children, as well as do visits to the hospital. She started to deteriorate to the point where we had to put her in a nursing home as we knew nothing about HIV. We would visit her twice weekly and pray with her. One morning, she said that she wanted to see her children and sisters. So, I went home and informed them of what she said and we made arrangements to visit her the next morning. We all went there. It was at that point that I knew she was going to die. The following morning, I was tidying her and she died right in my hands. I was young and ignorant about HIV, other than it's “a disease that kills”.
What are your goals as an IAS change maker?
My goals are to:
1. Improve the quality of life among people living with HIV and men who have sex with men through the implementation of community focus groups to enhance HIV prevention.
2. Enhance proper adherence to ART along with the psycho-social team, including the social worker, case manager psychologist and adherence counsellor, through structured programmes, such as support groups and buddy systems.
3. Strengthen the knowledge of human rights and advocacy among people living with HIV and men who have sex with men and help prevent discrimination against them in the workplace.
4. Help reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and men who have sex with men and strengthen and support the capacity of civil society organizations to effectively promote and advocate for improved healthcare for them.