3 days ago
2
AS THE world paused to observe World AIDS Day 2025, Jamaica is taking the opportunity to highlight significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS while reaffirming its commitment to reducing new infections and improving access to care for all citizens.
With the global theme ‘Let Communities Lead’, this year’s observance underscores the vital role that grass-roots groups, health workers, and civil society play in shaping the country’s HIV response. Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness reports that steady gains have been made in treatment coverage, public awareness, and reduction of stigma, factors that continue to drive national success.
Over the past decade, Jamaica has seen a gradual decline in HIV infections, particularly among young adults. Expanded testing services, the availability of antiretroviral therapy across all parishes, and the integration of HIV care into primary health services have all contributed to these improvements.
Community-based organisations have also played a crucial role by providing outreach, mobile testing, and education in both rural and urban communities. According to health officials, more Jamaicans living with HIV are achieving viral suppression, meaning that the virus is effectively controlled and far less likely to be transmitted.
Despite strong progress, public-health leaders acknowledge that stigma and discrimination remain barriers to care, particularly for marginalised populations. This year’s World AIDS Day events focus heavily on education campaigns, youth engagement, and partnerships with community advocates to foster greater understanding and reduce fear.
Schools, faith-based organisations, and civic groups across the island are participating in awareness activities, wearing the red ribbon, and promoting messages of compassion and inclusion.
Minister of Health and Wellness officials say the goal is to accelerate progress so the country can meet global 2030 targets for ending the AIDS public-health threat.
Priorities moving forward include
• Increasing access to HIV testing and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
• Strengthening support for persons living with HIV.
• Enhancing sexual health education for adolescents.
• Expanding community-led initiatives.
• Ensuring equitable care for vulnerable and high-risk groups.
• Honouring lives, celebrating hope
World AIDS Day in Jamaica is also a time of remembrance, honouring the lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses while celebrating those who continue to advocate, support, and lead in the fight against HIV.
Ceremonies, candlelight vigils, and community forums across the island aim to reinforce a shared national message: HIV is preventable, treatable, and no longer a barrier to a full and meaningful life.
As Jamaica reflects on its achievements and the work still ahead, officials continue to emphasise the central message of the day: Ending AIDS requires every community, every partner, and every citizen to play a role.
This World AIDS Day, the priorities for Jamaica include
• Expanding access to ART and improving retention in care so that more people living with HIV not only start treatment but remain in it through viral suppression.
• Intensifying prevention efforts, particularly among key populations and youth, to reduce new infections.
• Strengthening data collection and monitoring to ensure that resources reach the most affected communities.
• Combating stigma, discrimination, and inequity — barriers that prevent many from seeking testing, care, or social support.
• Sustaining political and financial commitment amid shifting international funding landscapes.
Jamaica’s progress is real. The elimination of mother-to-child transmission and declining AIDS-related deaths are major victories. But with treatment and suppression gaps, and new infections continuing, the fight is far from over. As the region, and the world, mark World AIDS Day, Jamaica is reminded that solidarity, equity, and sustained action remain essential.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• Since the mid-1990s, Jamaica has maintained adult HIV prevalence below two per cent.
• The national response integrates HIV prevention, treatment, and support services into routine sexual and reproductive health and primary care services, strengthening STI care and making HIV services more accessible. Prevention efforts have targeted both the general population and ‘key populations, including men who have sex with men, sex workers, persons with multiple sexual partners or STIs, youth, and other high-risk groups, using outreach, condom distribution, testing, and counselling.
• According to the most recent summary from the global data portal, Jamaica has expanded HIV prevention and treatment by decentralising lab systems and widening access to pre-exposure prophylaxis.
• In 2024, Jamaica received official certification for elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis, a landmark public-health achievement.
SOURCE: UNAIDS, Ministry of
Health and Wellness
English (US) ·