HIV/AIDS in Colon - Panama Pt.1
“Colon, Panama is the city with the highest number of HIV infections for 2006 in Latin America.”
HIV and AIDS came up while we were discussing “The Church & Society” in Bible Study during Patriotic Month in Panama. This data came from a member attending the study a couple weeks before World AIDS Day December 01, 2006.
I am yet to confirm the data my member shared. However, if true, it is staggering. Public information resources in English on HIV/AIDS in Colon, Panama are practically non-existent. Internet search on HIV/AIDS in Panama carries very little information beyond 2004, and perhaps only two top sites have information up to 2005. This is the case for both English and Spanish searches. Since my member shared that information, I have begun my own quest for information.
Nonetheless, our congregation, First Isthmian Baptist cannot feign ignorance of the reality of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic. The majority of the membership knows at least one person in Colon who is living with HIV. However, the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS is still a reality. Persons tend to be somewhat distant once they know someone is infected with HIV.
The members of our congregation recently pledged to become a more sensitive and welcoming community, and not exclude a HIV infected person who visits or become a member. However, there is still a need for education among the membership - especially on the general issue of Sexuality.
According to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), in 2006 the Caribbean and Latin America show an increase of 2 million persons living with HIV and AIDS. This is in spite of the evident increase in public awareness campaigns in places such as Jamaica, and Barbados. (Read PAHO Report here.) Reports at PAHO and UNAIDS on Latin America show Panama as ranking third among countries with highest number of infections in this region.
Along with this, I could not overlook the highlighted information that in Panama, more men are infected with HIV than women. These are mostly men who are in relationships with other men. High figures might no doubt exist for gay men in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean. However unlike Jamaica, men in Panama are more willing to reveal that they are gay. They and sex workers are the two groups most at risk for HIV infection.
In Colon, discussing sexuality is not an option - it is an urgent requirement. More will be said on this issue in later posts. In a second post HIV and AIDS In Colon Panama Part 2, I add a final note to this post.
Want to know more about HIV/AIDS and perhaps how you might get involved?
Then you might want to bookmark these sites for your own research on a subject that is no “nine day wonder” (it is not going to disappear anytime soon)! To Bookmark go to List of HIV/AIDS Resources
You cannot afford to remain uninvolved. Know any other good sites with great resources? Post the link in the comment box. Thank You!
Marvia
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