President France Albert Rene has urged on the population to be more open about HIV and Aids in his message to commemorate World Aids Day on Monday December 1.

The message reads:

"Another World Aids Day has arrived and the world finds itself still battling against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.  This tiny agent still maintains a tight grip in our neighbourhood, sub-Saharan Africa, is growing rapidly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and continues to rise even in the high-income countries. 

"The Indian Ocean region is also heavily menaced and Seychelles has not shown signs of a reduction in the epidemic. Our people are highly aware of HIV and Aids but a change in behaviour is slow in forthcoming.  

"Our nation is committed to fighting HIV and Aids and for over a year now, we have provided free treatment to all persons living with HIV and Aids.  Sadly, however, a number have not come forward for fear of being stigmatised. Several are coming out late for fear of being discriminated against. Many out there may be HIV-positive but have not been tested and do not know it for fear of being treated differently.

"Yes, we have broken the silence of country status and statistics, but we still live in the silence of fear, ignorance and shame. 

"Yet, Seychellois are well-known to be a people who care, a people who are sympathetic and a people with a big heart.  Let us go a step further and treat each other with dignity, and offer compassion and solidarity to the individuals and families living with HIV.  

"Let us be more open about HIV and Aids.  Our youth is extremely vulnerable.  Let us break the silence of fear, denial stigma and discrimination.  Let us turn our commitment into action and double our efforts.  The responsibility lies with each of us."

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