I decided to participate in this e-course because at present I am actively involved in Jamaica’s response to fighting HIV and AIDS in the country. Currently, I am serving the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network and Advocates for Youth in Washington D.C. as a sexual and reproductive health and rights advocate and I am also the Jamaica’s National Focal Point to the Global Youth Coalition Network. In both capacities I have been able to make invaluable contributions to the implementation of prevention, treatment and care program and policies aimed at particularly safeguarding the sexual and reproductive health status of young Jamaicans. I feel doing this e-course will build my capacity to fully understand the needs of young people infected and affected by HIV around me and as such allow me to help to address their needs with as much efficacy as possible.
I am particularly passionate about the welfare of young people comprising most-at –risk populations (MARPS) as well as street youth. In Jamaica, there is no specialized program or legislation that speaks adequately to addressing the needs of those young people comprising MARPs who are infected and affected by the disease as programmes are almost exclusively implemented to address the needs of attached youths because they are so much easier to target. As a result, unattached youth and by extension MARPs are excluded. This has to change because herein lies a clear violation of these youth’s right to quality health care and protection. I would like to be in a position to implement a project that shows the government that these young people are not unreachable but can be incorporated in our overall HIV strategic action plan.
I look forward to having a very fulfilling experience and i'm excited to be working with everyone.
