– Government says Motion is misguided and misdirected
The National Assembly Thursday unanimously agreed to refer a motion, Criminal Responsibility of HIV Infected Individuals, moved by Guyana Action Party-Rise Organise and Rebuild (GAP-ROAR) Member of Parliament, Everall Franklin, to a special select committee. Franklin, in his opening presentation, said that just as there are laws to protect HIV infected persons against discrimination and stigma, likewise there should be laws to protect HIV negative persons from being intentionally infected.
He noted that even though the attacks on the civil liberties on persons living with HIV have significantly decreased over the years, there is still need for improvement as the stigma propelled by ignorance is still attached to the disease.
Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy in his response, said that criminalisation of HIV transmission is not proven to prevent the spread of the disease, but rather, it merely encourages individuals not to get tested and increases the stigma and discrimination against those who are tested positive. He added that this can lead to an increase in the spread of the dreaded disease by those who do not know their HIV status.
“Stigma and discrimination have proven to be the powerful drives of the HIV epidemic. Most people living with HIV and knowing their status are taking measures to protect themselves and others,” the Minister posited.
He highlighted that any motion that sets criminal penalties for HIV transmission and forces public disclosure of a person’s status is counter to the objectives of public health.
“The fact is that criminalisation of HIV exposure risks undermining public health and human rights and as such it is not a solution,” the Minister maintained.
He emphasised that in the instance where a person willfully transmits HIV with intent to cause harm, the matter calls for a comprehensive national dialogue, which can be deliberated at the level of the parliamentary special select committee.
In fact, the Health Minister tabled an amendment to the motion to give effect to the formation of such a committee.
This view was fully supported by the main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform. The party’s member Volda Lawrence said that criminalising HIV transmission could backfire and hurt the very persons whom it initially sought to protect.
She emphasised the need to devise a more productive and practical way in dealing with the disease.
People’s Progressive Party member, Gail Teixeira, extending her support to send the motion to a special select committee, said that in criminalising the disease, determining who infected whom and when could pose serious challenges.
She pointed out that the transmission of tuberculosis, like HIV, could also prove to be fatal and as such appropriate measures need to be discussed at the committee level.
The motion was supported by the Alliance for Change (AFC) who, notwithstanding, agreed for it to be taken to a special select committee.
Guyana was among the first countries to publish a National Aids Policy in 1998 that generally guides the development of interventions and in respecting the fundamental rights of citizens. This policy was revised in 2003 and 2006.
Over recent years, Government, through the Health Ministry, has taken several robust steps which have led to significant improvement as it relates to dealing with the disease. These include vigorous Antiviral and HIV Prevention Programmes, more widespread testing, easier accessibility to treatment and care, and reduction in cases of mother to child transmission of HIV. (GINA)