On July 14, figures on AIDS were published, which show that new HIV infections have fallen by almost a third since 2000. In Saint-Martin, the association AIDS has been carrying out its actions since 2008 in adapting to the specificities of the territory.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has announced that ending the epidemic by 2030 is ambitious but realistic. But behind these good figures, there are the associations, the doctors and the patients who fight against AIDS. Saint-Martin is the 2nd territory in France most affected by AIDS, after Guyana and before Ile-de-France. 1% of the inhabitants here are HIV positive: this relatively high threshold speaks of a generalized epidemic, according to the criteria of the WTO.
Cooperation is essential
One of the necessities of our island is to have to cooperate with the surrounding islands and with the Dutch side. AIDS does not know the borders and if an inhabitant of Anguilla is tested HIV positive in Saint-Martin, the association must be able to orient it on the structures of its island ... Cooperating with the Dutch side is all the more a necessity that, the health system not being the same there, the association of fight against AIDS on the Dutch side is overwhelmed and the French AIDS waits for the authorization of the government elected last summer to be able to get involved in Sint Maarten.
Support and prevention
Faced with sometimes very difficult social situations, a therapeutic support program towards social, medical and psychological autonomy is implemented. AIDS also intervenes a lot for prevention: a screening bus leaves several evenings a week, "condom showers" are organized in bars and above all, activists - as the members of the association are called, and the term summarizes on its own the complex relationship with this disease which crystallizes discrimination as much as it mobilizes good will - are listening to everyone.
AIDS, rue Tah-Bloudy, in Concordia, between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on weekdays (except Wednesday), is always open to new volunteers, as long as they respect its values: confidentiality, welcoming everyone and solidarity. _HM
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