Regional educator to talk about living with HIV

(CNS): Dedicated advocate for HIV education John Lake who has been living with HIV for over 16 years is currently visiting the Cayman Islands to talk about the challenges he has faced by being openly HIV positive while living on a small island. A guestof the  Cayman AIDS Foundation (CAF) Lake is the CEO and founder of the Anguilla Community Action Network and he regularly reaches out to local communities to promote the truth that persons with HIV can and do live productive lives. Since 2011, the number of new HIV infections has doubled in Cayman with males accounting for 80% of new HIV infections and the majority are under the age of 40.

After sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean is one of the most heavily affected regions with HIV infections.  Even though HIV and AIDS have been around for many years, it is evidentthat many people still do not know enough about the disease and others struggle with the stigma of living with it. Education plays a key role in reducing the number of new HIV infections and breaking the barrier of stigma and discrimination.

Lake will is in Cayman until 2 June and will be hosting an open session at the HSA’s conference room today Thursday 30 May titled “Overcoming HIV” where he will talk about his experiences.

Lake serves as the focal point for HIV and AIDS for his church and the Optimist Club of Anguilla.  He is also a member of several international and Caribbean non-profit HIV organisations including the HIV multi-Sectorial Committee, CRN+, the Kenya AIDS Support Group and advisor to the St. Lucia AIDS Support Group.  It is our hope that the Cayman Islands will join forces with other Caribbean countries and implement policies that will protect persons living with HIV and AIDS.

CAF is a non-profit organisation established to improve the quality of life for people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.  CAF continues to work within the Cayman Islands community to educate people about HIV and AIDS, safe practices, promoting regular HIV testing, preventing discrimination against people who are infected, and providing support for persons living with HIV and AIDS. For more information on CAF or on our World AIDS Day initiatives, please email info@caf.ky