1. Youth and HIV David Plummer
Commonwealth / UNESCO Professor of Education (HIV)
The University of the West Indies
St Augustine

2. Caribbean HIV and AIDS estimates, start 2005
Adult HIV prevalence (15-49)
2.3%
(range: %)
HIV+ adults and children (0-49)
440 000 (range: 270, ,000)
HIV+ Women (15-49)
(range: 120,000 – 380,000)
Adults and children newly HIV infected in 2004
53 000
(range: 27, ,000)
Adult and child AIDS deaths in 2004
36 000 (range: 24,000-61,000)
Caribbean HIV and AIDS estimates, start 2005
Source: AIDS epidemic update 2004

3. The Caribbean is the second most HIV-affected region in the world per head of population
In 1999, 3.38% of pregnant women were found to be HIV+
73% of infections are in people between 15 to 49 years of age
74% of new infections are in females between 15 to 24 years of age
AIDS is now the leading cause of death among young adults

4. New HIV infections in Trinidad and Tobago
Source: Trinidad and Tobago National Surveillance Unit. Annual Reports

5. Cases of AIDS in Trinidad & Tobago by Sex and Age Group
Source: Trinidad and Tobago National Surveillance Unit. Annual Reports

6. Prevention is Possible
Incidence of HIV in Australia

7. Prevention is Possible
Incidence of HIV in Thailand

8. Strategies are being constantly and severely undermined by stigma
Sticking points
Workers are reporting a significant gap between high HIV awareness and low levels of protective behaviour change
Strategies are being constantly and severely undermined by stigma
Gender is a significant factor: masculinity is a significant problem that has not been adequately addressed
There is a pre-occupation with the death toll and a collective lack of vision

9. The FBO Dilemma
Engaging in a tug of war and sending mixed messages can only help the virus
The debate has polarized along progressive versus conservative lines and risks loosing sight of people infected and affected
Ascendancy of conservative political dogma over a traditional religious commitment to compassion and saving lives
There is a risk that the dogma might result in a de facto ‘pro-death’ stance
This is the challenge for faith based organizations, which have enormous potential

10. Abstinence and beyond
Schools should be ‘sex free zones’. It is a paradox that the abstinence campaigns cause us to loose sight of this point
At last count, less than 1% of school students are involved in abstinence clubs in Trinidad schools
The clear and present danger for young people is outside of school
All means available should be used to keep our young free of infection
Fundamental principles of prohibition versus harm minimisation

11. thank you *
be safe
care more