VOLUME 10 ISSUE 48

Page 1

DECEMBER 20TH, 2014 – DECEMBER 31ST, 2014

Website: www.suntci.com

VOLUME 10 - NO. 48

Email: sun@suntci.com

Tel: (649) 339-5879

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Fax: (649) 941-3281

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HIV CASES DOWN

T

here has been a decrease in the number of known HIV cases and deaths from the virus in the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to a recently released report from the Ministry of Health. However, the HIV Surveillance Report 1984 to 2013 stated that one challenge to HIV surveillance in the Turks and Caicos Islands remains the “constant influx of immigrants who come to the shores of the country in search of employment”. According to the report: “This (constant influx of immigrants) has resulted in a transient population with a high proportion of nonBelongers; the local term for persons other than TCI nationals. A recent country poverty assessment (conducted in conjunction with the 2012 census) showed that nonBelongers account for more than 40% of the population on all islands except one. On two islands nonBelongers constitute the majority of the population. Non-Turks & Caicos Islanders require work permits to become legally employed in the TCI and as a requirement in this process are tested for HIV. Prior, applicants who tested positive for HIV were not issued a work permit and, with no legal basis for remaining in the country, were expected to return to their home country. This has resulted in a large proportion of positive persons for whom no further information has been collected and who have never accessed care in the TCI. Since 2008 persons testing positive for HIV have not been denied a work permit solely on the basis of their HIV status.” The report stated that from 1984 until the end of 2013, a total of 559 persons were diagnosed with HIV. The number of new HIV diagnoses peaked in 1999; when 70 persons were newly diagnosed that year. With the exception of a few years, females outnumbered males among individuals newly diagnosed

SCOTIABANK, SOROPTIMIST BRING CHRISTMAS CHEER: Almost a dozen children from the Enid Capron and the Ianthe Pratt Primary Schools in Providenciales should have a brighter Christmas, thanks to the Soroptimist Club and Scotiabank, which teamed up to purchase gifts for them. Blythe Clare, Soroptimist Federation Councilor for Great Britain, responsible for the three clubs in the TCI, said that the young recipients are mentees to club individual members under its mentorship programme. She said the mentors assist with books, clothing and other necessities, while encouraging the children to excel. She said the link with Scotiabank was established through club member Barbara Handfield-Smith, who works at the financial institution. The female mentees, according to Clare, were feted at the Carambola Restaurant by club members last week, who also presented gifts to them. Noreen Viechweg-Gardiner, Management Trainee Branch Manager at Scotiabank, explained that for the past five years the institution has forged a partnership with the Ministry of Education, and since colleague Barbara Handfield-smith is a Soroptimist, decided to partner with her charity this year. She said that every staff member was given the name of a child for which they were responsible to purchase gifts. She said that some of the employees expressed the desire to become mentors for the children in 2015. Soroptimist International’s mandate is to see about women and children. On Providenciales, the club works closely with the Oseta Jolly and the Enid Capron Primary Schools.

with HIV. The gender discrepancy that is observed suggests that women are at greater risk for contracting HIV than men in the TCI. There has been a gradual downward trend in the total number of newly diagnosed PLHIV since 2007, to a low in 2013; in that year only 10 cases were diagnosed. Out of the total of 559 persons who were diagnosed with HIV in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), cases

were predominately female, though this trend was only seen among Haitians; the nationality most represented among the HIV cases. Among Turks and Caicos Islanders, the second most prevalent nationality among the HIV cases, males predominated. In the same time period the highest number of cases were recorded among the 26 - 35 year age group.

Green tips to save you some Green — Setting Computers and Copiers to sleep when not in use helps to cut energy cost by 40%, but shutting them off completely and unplugging their power supplies ensures that they stop using electricity altogether.

www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 | P.O. Box 132 Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

There were 84 deaths among persons with HIV; the males were more likely to die. There was a gradual increase in the number of HIV cases from 1984 to 1999 when the highest number of cases was recorded. The number of persons who tested positive also peaked in 2007, since then there has been a gradual decline, the report revealed. Continued on Page 5

Too many taxis in Provo - Page 15

Trial Without Jury Repeal Bill killed - Page 5

Fortis secures $90Million loan - Page 7

Remove Chief Financial Officer from Constitution - Page 11


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