Humphrey warns of dangerous HIV myths, calls for renewed education drive

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey is sounding the alarm on HIV education, warning that dangerous misconceptions, including the belief that there is a cure, are undermining national prevention efforts.

Speaking at the Man Aware event on Saturday at his constituency office, Humphrey said recent research findings were troubling.

“The initial results from our research seem to suggest that the knowledge of HIV is regressing and persons are making unusual decisions, with some very strange beliefs, which tells me that we have to up our own educational campaign in the ministry.”

The minister called for the restoration of dedicated HIV awareness budgets across all ministries, arguing that a whole-of-government approach is necessary to address gaps in public knowledge.

“You can potentially reverse all your gains in a short space of time if you are reckless and if you are not consistently concerned with education.”

Acknowledging advances in treatment, Humphrey said, “We have learned and developed medical interventions that allow people to live.”  However, he stressed, “HIV is still here, there is no cure for HIV.”

Emphasising the need for sustained education, he said, “I think HIV education has to be a consistent ongoing thing.”

He also cautioned young people against complacency. “I don’t want anyone to think that because we have had these advancements in medical technologies, that it means that you can be reckless. My message has always been ‘be very careful’. If you are going to engage in sexual activity, do it in a way that is responsible.”

Acting Director of the National Wellbeing and HIV Commission Lynn Armstrong explained that the Man Aware initiative, launched in 2016, was developed in response to public concerns that their efforts were centred on the Speak Sister campaign and did not sufficiently engage men. This programme is designed to strategically close that gap.

In addition to providing free haircuts ahead of the return to school, the event blended education with interactive activities. These included Ups and Downs, a game developed by Jamilia Williams-Phillips to engage participants while delivering HIV education in a fun and relatable way, a condom demonstration, and HIV-related information shared between musical sets by deejay Ronald Henry. Health checks were also offered in collaboration with the Live Well Clinic, giving participants immediate access to services in a relaxed, community-based setting.

Expressing satisfaction with the initiative’s impact, Minister Humphrey said, “Education has to be spread across the country in a way that reaches people and I think that is exactly what we are doing here.” (STT)