JAMAICA: ANTI-DISCRIMINATION EFFORTS FOR HIV

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000480

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT PASS EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE FOR INFO

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
(DHOFFMANN)(RALVARADO)(VDEPIRRO)(WSMITH)
STATE FOR OGAC
USAID/LAC
USAID/GLOBAL HEALTH
SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AID SOCI PREL KHIV TBIO JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: ANTI-DISCRIMINATION EFFORTS FOR HIV
POSITIVE WORKERS

Summary and Recommendation
--------------


1. (U) On June 11 the Jamaica Business Council on
HIV/AIDS hosted the 4th Pan Caribbean Business Coalition
Forum on HIV/AIDS (forum) for business and NGO leaders in
the Caribbean. At the event the Government of Jamaica
(GOJ) highlighted that Jamaica has more than 30,000
people living with HIV/AIDS and the most at-risk group
are those who are also the majority of the labor force.
A study estimates that that HIV/AIDS causes a 6 percent
loss of GDP for Jamaica. The GOJ is in the process of
drafting new legislative reforms for HIV positive
workers. The Minister of Health and the Director of the
National Program for HIV/AIDS would like to visit
Washington in mid-September to brief USG officials on the
HIV/AIDs epidemic in Jamaica. Post recommends that
Washington approve, and will coordinate the schedule.
End Summary and Recommendation

Significant HIV Infected Community
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2. (U) In the keynote address, Minister of State in the
Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Andrew Gallimore,
(speaking on behalf of Minister of Labour Purnell
Charles) acknowledged that HIV has a significant impact
on production and national development in Jamaica.
According to the National HIV and Sexually Transmitted
Infections (STI) Program, Jamaica?s national HIV
prevalence rate in 2008 was 1.6 percent, up from the
previously reported 1.5 percent. It is estimated that
Jamaica has approximately 30,000 people living with
HIV/AIDS: the largest infected population in the English
and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.

Critical and Challenging Moment
--------------


3. (U) Gallimore noted that ?these figures indicate to us
that we are at a critical and challenging moment and we
must respond effectively.? The most critical segment of
the workforce are those in the 18-49 age range, which is
also the group most at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, as the lead
agency in the workplace, in partnership with the National
HIV/STI Program, has developed the National Workplace
Policy (NWP) on HIV/AIDS for the GOJ, employers, and
workers.

National Policy Process
--------------


4. (U) The NWP is now a green paper to be deliberated by
an eleven member Joint Select Committee of Parliament. A
report has been drafted that will be presented to the
main House of Parliament. After recommendations have
been made to Parliament by the Joint Select Committee and
approval received, the document will be submitted to
Cabinet as a White Paper. Cabinet will approve and
instruct the relevant Ministries to carry out the
implementation process.


5. (U) Gallimore made it clear that he foresees legal
implications once it become obligatory for companies to
develop and implement an HIV/AIDS policy. When the
provisions of the Green Paper become regulations, there
will have to be provisions for education, treatment,
care, and support, as well as a grievance system. The
provisions related to HIV regulations in the Green Paper
will become mandatory when they are included under the
proposed Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Plans for the Future
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6. (U) Gallimore called for adequate resources to be
provided for an effective, multi-pronged, long-term
behavior change strategy to reduce new infections. In
keeping with previous statements by Ministers of Health
in the region, Gallimore said the Caribbean had ?no
choice but to work together as we have so much in

common,? yet he noted that ?we must not fail to recognize
the uniqueness of each territory in attempting to address
HIV and AIDS.?

HIV/AIDS In The Region
--------------

7 (U) In an examination of the AIDS situation in the
Caribbean, the 2008 UNAIDS report on the global AIDS
epidemic, reported that at 1.6 percent Jamaica has the
third highest prevalence rate in the entire Western
hemisphere after the Bahamas at 3.3 percent and Haiti at
2.2 percent. Trinidad?s prevalence rate follows at 1.5
percent while the OECS countries experience much lower
prevalence rates and numbers of persons living with
HIV/AIDS.

Costs to GDP, Private Sector Action
--------------


8. (SBU) In Jamaica, HIV currently causes a 6 percent
loss of in Gross Domestic Product (GDP),according to a
recent study by the University of the West Indies. If
HIV/AIDS is not managed effectively, it may have a
devastating effect on the local workforce in a country
already hard hit by the global financial crisis. Also
worthy of note is a proposal by Chairman of the Jamaica
Business Council on HIV/AIDS Earle Moore (who is also CEO
of Guardian Life, one of Jamaica?s largest insurance
companies) to formulate a plan for extending health and
life insurance coverage to HIV positive people.

Comment And Recommendation
--------------


9. (SBU) As part of the consultation process in
preparation for the development and approval of the new
Caribbean Regional Framework to combat HIV/AIDS, USAID
Director and Pol/Econ Section will meet with Labor
Minister Charles to urge passage and implementation of
the policy contained in the Green Paper at the earliest
opportunity. Post will also encourage the GOJ to assume
a leadership role among Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
nations in the formulation and passage of similar
workplace legislation throughout the region. Minister of
Health, Rudyard Spencer and the Director of the National
Program for HIV/AIDS, Dr. Kevin Harvey, would like to
visit Washington in mid-September to make a presentation
on the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Jamaica. This would be an
excellent opportunity for USG interlocutors to meet with
GOJ officials on this topic. Post will coordinate this
visit. End Comment and Recommendation.

MOSS