Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV continue to be major barriers to accessing healthcare and securing employment.

Patrick Lalor, policy and advocacy officer at Jamaica Aids Support for Life, shared that over 26,000 Jamaicans are currently living with HIV, but only about 14,000 are actively seeking medical care. Of these, 11,000 have achieved viral suppression, meaning the virus is undetectable in their blood and cannot be transmitted to others.

Lalor emphasised that stigma is the primary reason many individuals with HIV avoid seeking medical help.

“The Ministry of Health did a study and found that the number one barrier to people living with HIV coming forward is the discrimination they face,” he explained.

“People show up at a facility, get tested, are told they are positive, and then never return.”

He was speaking at a media workshop hosted by Jamaica Aids Support for Life (JASL) in partnership with the European Union on Thursday, 28 November at the Bahia Principe Hotel.

HIV discrimination in the workplace

He also pointed out the persistent issue of discrimination in both workplaces and schools.

“We still have clients who are dismissed from their jobs because of their HIV status. Currently, I’m handling a case where a teacher refuses to mark a child’s homework because the child’s mother is HIV positive. The child noticed the teacher was not taking her book, and upon investigation, it turned out the teacher was influenced by rumours in the community about her mother’s HIV status,” Lalor related.

While some progress has been made in public awareness and treatment access, Lalor stressed that stigma remains a significant challenge, impacting people’s health, employment, and social lives.

On the issue of legal protections for individuals living with HIV in the workplace, Lalor explained that while there is a policy in place, it lacks legal enforceability.

“The National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS is a voluntary policy. It’s sanctioned by both houses of Parliament but is not legally binding. The Ministry of Labour [and Social Security] has a voluntary compliance programme where companies can choose to sign on to the policy, but it has no legal effect,” Lalor said.

He also noted the importance of the media in fostering greater awareness and sensitivity toward the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, including those living with HIV.

This view was echoed by Pete Sankey, senior associate editor at Jamaica Observer, who stressed the importance of protecting the rights of vulnerable groups.

“We have to be careful of the language we use, and we have to ensure that we are not insensitive to the feelings of others. It starts with the reporter and goes to the editor. We need to be conscious of how our stories are crafted to avoid offending people or causing them harm,” he said.

“We must avoid writing sensational stories that could lead to people being targeted or hurt.”