Worldfocus: Caribbean HIV rate ranks second to sub-Saharan Africa

I produced this interview for Worldfocus: Caribbean HIV rate ranks second to sub-Saharan Africa

In terms of global HIV prevalence rates, the Caribbean region ranks second only to sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 230,000 people are living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. And in some places — like Haiti and the Bahamas — AIDS remains one of the leading causes of death.

Daljit and Julia also look at the role women play in the epidemic. Women make up half of the adults living with the virus in the Caribbean, and are infected by “bridging populations” — bi-sexual men who are leading double lives. Julia raises the possibility of linking women’s rights with gay rights to tackle the spread of the epidemic.

The Glass Closet is a multimedia reporting project produced by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and Worldfocus. It explores the themes of HIV, AIDS and homophobia in Jamaica.

Worldfocus: Reversing the stigma of HIV in Jamaica

I was the correspondent of the video story Ida’s story: Reversing the stigma of HIV in Jamaica, which aired on Worldfocus on Sept. 23, 2009.

Ida Northover is known fondly in her community as “Miss Gene.” She is a volunteer community leader battling stigma and discrimination in one of the poorest inner city communities on the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. Miss Gene’s leadership has proven to be a successful model for encouraging tolerance and support for people living with HIV.

Correspondent Lisa Biagiotti, producer Micah Fink and director of photography Gabrielle Weiss report on how Jamaica’s national AIDS program is targeting community leaders like Ida Northover to educate people about HIV and change the stigma surrounding the disease.

For more on HIV, AIDS and homophobia in Jamaica, visit The Glass Closet, a multimedia project produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Worldfocus: Jamaica’s battle against AIDS fought in the shadows

I was the correspondent on the video story Jamaica’s battle against AIDS fought in the shadows, which aired on Worldfocus on Sept. 22, 2009.

Jamaica may be on the verge of losing its battle against the AIDS epidemic because of deeply entrenched anti-gay attitudes and laws.

Correspondent Lisa Biagiotti, producer Micah Fink and director of photography Gabrielle Weiss report from the front lines of Jamaica’s battle against HIV and AIDS, a war waged in the shadows.

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