Gender & Child Affairs Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy calls for an end to stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS.
Minister for Gender and Child Affairs Ayanna Webster-Roy has called for a national shift in attitudes to tackle stigma and discrimination in Trinidad and Tobago. Speaking at a sensitization session on stigma and discrimination strategy at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain, on Tuesday, December 2nd, she urged citizens to embrace care and tolerance to address social issues. The session, part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, highlighted HIV trends, stigma-related data, and personal testimonials. It followed the launch of the Youth Pan Yard Crawl on World AIDS Day on December 1st, a project offering safe spaces for youth vulnerable to HIV. UNAIDS Multi-Country Director Dr. Richard Amenyah emphasized that fighting HIV requires more than medication, pointing to stigma as a barrier to progress. Minister Webster-Roy stressed that prejudices hinder national HIV targets, urging collaboration and announcing plans to launch a National HIV and AIDS Policy in early 2025.
