Why So Late, Barbados?

By Lyn-Marie Blackman
Bridgetown, Barbados
The HIV epidemic has been with us for the past 33 years with still no known cure. HIV prevention and regular testing has always been duly recommended by health professionals however this advice has not been so readily absorbed by many. In the month of June, HIV testing was conducted in Barbados as part of an annual regional testing event across the Caribbean. Although this is what many health authorities encourage; many are worried about the myriad cases of late stage HIV/AIDS diagnosis in Barbados. This worry was reflected in the statement of the then Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Elizabeth Ferdinand when she stated, “What is of concern for us is the alarming fact that many persons with HIV are being diagnosed at a late stage of the disease, when they already have developed AIDS.”[1]

The preceding statement from Dr. Ferdinand has not been very comforting at all for me as a Barbadian citizen because the longer a person waits to know their HIV status the more disastrous it can be. HIV is a very debilitating illness which has the potential to weaken a country’s economy by the costly HIV drugs that the health care sector has to budget for and the more people that are occupying hospital beds instead of being in the workforce can cause a regression in a country’s social and economic progress.

Therefore, I hit the streets to find out from the general public what were their thoughts on what the health professional stated and what may be spurring individuals in Barbados to come forward late for HIV testing. I was sourced with comments like “HIV is not something people want to know that they have” and “the fear of being positive is what will cause that”. Some further went on to state: “I trust my partner”, “I do not sleep around” and “I would rather not know.” So what solution can remedy this problem? The acronym HIV is scary no one can dispute that however no matter how the topic of HIV is presented; testing is and always will be very important to the HIV response. When you get tested you would be properly armed with the course of action that needs to be taken. If one gets a negative result then your aim is to stay negative and if one gets a positive result then make sure you receive efficient counseling, enter into a treatment program and adhere to your treatment regimen.


[1] http://www.caribbean360.com/news/barbados_news/late-stage-hivaids-diagnoses-worries-barbados-authorities