by Glynnis Hayward

Created on: May 26, 2008

It is just over a quarter of a century since the HIV virus manifested itself in the world population. In those early days of the 1980s, one could be excused for one's ignorance and fear. All we knew was that a deadly virus was ripping through gay population groups, with little knowledge of how it was spread and with no known cure. It was a death sentence. In such circumstances, bigotry thrives and it did. With an almost evangelical zeal, many could be heard proclaiming that it was a moral disease as much as a physical one. It wasn't quite so easy to dismiss however, when innocent babies were born with Aids, or patients received tainted blood transfusions that condemned them to a miserable fate. Role models like Mother Teresa and Princess Diana did much to remove notions that you could catch Aids by simple contact with a patient who had the disease. Their compassion and bravery was a lesson to many.

Fortunately now, two decades later, we are no longer ignorant and need not be fearful of this epidemic. Enormous funds worldwide have been dedicated to research and education regarding the HIV virus, and as a result we know how it is transmitted and how to prevent it. Although we cannot cure it, there are drugs which make patients able to live and function well for many years. The problem now, however, is not only getting these anti-retro viral drugs to poorer countries and educating populations there about the transmission of the virus, but changing attitudes in those places as well.

Sadly, ignorance still plays a huge part in this worldwide epidemic, much as it did in the 1980s. It is ignorance that leads to bigotry, stigma and discrimination. Homophobia as seen in Jamaica, Zimbabwe and other parts of the world, makes the gay population doubly at risk; those afflicted with the virus are slow to get help, afraid of social retribution. They continue unsafe practices, furthering the spread of the disease without access to resources that might check it. Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean countries have the highest rates of Aids in the world. It is significant that they also have arguably the greatest degree of bigotry and discrimination. Homosexuality is illegal and prison sentences are common in both Jamaica and Zimbabwe. This does not stop the practice, but pushes it under cover where it becomes a conduit for the spread of the virus. Homosexual men also hide their sexuality under the guise of marriage, spreading the virus even further.

South Africa has one of the

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