There is a greater drive for youth to get tested for HIV. However, Deputy Mayor of Kingston, Winston Ennis says at free testing sites across the municipality of Kingston, it is mostly older persons interested in knowing their status.

This, he says is concerning, given the statistics of youth participating in sexual activities. Ennis is appealling to sexually active youth to prioritize their health and take advantage of the testing opportunities being provided.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation Robert Hill says eliminating lingering issues such as discrimination, requires a united effort. Likewise, Outreach Officer at the National Council of Drug Abuse, Ravil Gohagon says the council partners with different organizations yearly, to reach the homeless population who are HIV positive or affected by HIV.

Efforts to bolster public education on the sensitive issues relating to the virus were conducted on World AIDS Day, with representatives appealing to the public to help Jamaica continue on its path towards zero new AIDS infections.

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