HIV patients in Bermuda may no longer be facing a death sentence, but the stigma against the condition remains.

Speaking in advance of today’s World Aids Day, Kim Ball, HIV co-ordinator at the Department of Health, said while she has found more people are willing to be tested than in the past, those with the virus are still treated differently.

“There is still a stigma, and because of that there is still the desire not to share this information, and I think there is a measure of ignorance and unkindness by some who don’t have the virus. I think that’s a bit of human nature,” she said.

“People want to be accepted, no matter what they have. They want to be able to say if they have diabetes, have hypertension, have HIV, but we are not there yet. We need to be considerate of others.”

She said the prevalence rate in Bermuda is still low compared to other countries and the island is fortunate in that treatments were available for patients, but there was still work to be done.

“We can’t just get comfortable, relax or become complacent, because there are still those who place themselves unwillingly at risk and those who do become affected,” she said.

Ms Ball said that while the number of new cases of HIV on the island had fallen over the years, estimating that less than ten new cases are being identified in a year, patients with the virus are living longer, leaving the number of persons living with the virus relatively steady. And in order to prevent new cases, she urged the public to get tested regularly, and make sure they know the status of their partner.

“Have that conversation with that partner,” she said. “No one goes into any type of relationship wanting to get an STD. That is not the goal, so you have to keep these things in mind. And for physicians, encourage your patients to get tested at least once a year, or if they put themselves at risk, that should dictate how often they get tested.”

Meanwhile, Carolyn Armstrong, director of the charity Supportive Therapy for Aids persons and their Relatives, urged parents and other adults in the community to have the sometimes awkward conversation about STDs with their children.

“When we look at the young people who are experimenting younger and younger, they don’t even know what conversation to have,” she said. “Those of you who know them enough to know they are at risk, love them enough to have that conversation. Be a part of the village.

“If we can get a group of young people who know and understand, then they will be able to get the message out to their peers, but it has to begin with us as the adults. Be the champion for the child.”

Over the years, she said improving treatment options have meant that people with HIV or Aids live longer, causing the charity to shift its services to better support its clients.

“We have also found that since the economic downturn, there are so many of our clients who are no longer working and their resources have dried up, but we are here and we can assist to a limited extent,” she said.

“People are depending on us financially, for housing and for food stuffs, and things for their families. We are looking at our Christmas numbers and there has been an increase in families needing food. Of course, we want to make sure that they have a wholesome, happy holiday, so we will do what we can and help as much as possible.”

Mrs Armstrong noted that more than just the clients themselves need assistance, saying that many who are being helped are the family members of those who have died from the virus.

“A lot of these are affected because many people are no longer here,” she said. “We have grandparents raising grandchildren because the parents are no longer here. We target those families because many are now on fixed income and it’s difficult when raising children.”