"You Are Your Brothers Keeper," Reid Says

Anguilla’s Minister of Social Development, Hon Eric Reid, says people will only come to accept their responsibility of being their brother’s keeper when they treat them equally regardless of infirmity.

Mr. Reid made the statement while addressing members of the religious community at the Teachers Resource Centre on January 19. He spoke largely about HIV/AIDS and other health issues at the invitation of Family Life Educator, Patricia Beard. He told his listeners that the church and religious leaders had a great role to play in how communities viewed the AIDS epidemic and the response that would mitigate its effects.

He observed that it was by open discussion that the level of the AIDS stigma in society could be reduced, thereby improving the treatment of HIV positive patients. “We have been aware of persons who are infected with the disease for many years yet, more than a decade after the first case was identified in Anguilla AIDS-related stigma continues on a subtle, but still painful level,” he said. “Around the world, discrimination against people with AIDS is alive and deadly.”

The Minister continued: “Those who have experienced the sting of alienation learn quickly to hide their disease. Many never get tested, seek treatment or find the support to live with AIDS when they see what happens to those who admit their HIV status: eviction, unemployment, violence, even murder. They also see children stigmatised by their parents’ disease.

“Christian communities have been largely silent – even complicit – in the mistreatment of those with AIDS. Distracted perhaps by the desire to separate themselves from the perceived sins of those with the virus, many Christians have neglected their first call: to love the sick and hurting.”

He observed that churches should invite Ministry of Health officials to attend meetings and services to speak on HIV/AIDS issues to their members. He said Government was committed to ensuring that the correct information was disseminated and applauded the National AIDS Committee for its work.

“Despite the best work of science, neither a vaccine nor a cure is on the horizon,” Mr. Reid went on. “New strategies are needed to fight the disease. We must allow those with AIDS to feel safe admitting their illness. We must embrace them, regardless of our opinion of their sexual practices. We must help them find medical care and we must provide them and their families with emotional care.”

Mr. Reid reiterated his Ministry’s support for the AIDS programme and reminded all that they were their brother’s keeper.

Minister of Health Hon. Eric Reid