It has been more than 25 years since scientists reported the existence of HIV. From 1981 to this day we have documented more than 39.5 million people living with HIV around the world. In the US for 2004, we have documented more than 45,000 new cases per year. With more than 1.1 Million living with HIV, it is estimated that more than 25% of the general population are not aware of their HIV status (CDC, 2006)

In Massachusetts, since the HIV epidemic we have documented more than 28,000 cumulative AIDS cases and today, more than 16,000 residents are living with HIV (MDPH, October, 2006). In the Massachusetts Haitian community, we have also documented cumulatively more than 1142 AIDS cases and more than 723 Massachusetts Haitian residents are currently living with HIV. Back in October 2005, 43 new diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases of Haitians were reported in Massachusetts. It is important to remember that the statistics reflect only Haitian born (MDPH, October 2006).

Judging from the above statistics, people are continuing to be infected by HIV in the Haitian community. In a more threaten way; Haitian women are increasingly by 42% representing the total adult AIDS cases. In the spirit of the World AIDS Day 2006, it is therefore necessary to reinforce our commitment to reduce the number of new HIV infection and to meet the current HIV needs of persons living with HIV in the Haitian community.

CCHER and other local organizations and providers have kept our HIV public health commitment by bringing HIV prevention services and care to Haitians in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, a great deal of work remains to be done to stop AIDS. As we move forward, the federal, state and city governments’ commitment must be the same in keeping access to HIV care, treatment and prevention to all in need. In the Haitian community, as well, we medical, social and public health practitioners must continue to persuade city, state, and federal health departments that we are important partners with them in the fight to stop AIDS. For these health departments to understand our sincere commitment and increase their partnership, we must also be accountable and be effective in our delivery of HIV prevention and services.

The work of the Metro Boston Haitian Reach 2010 Coalition is the starting point in establishing that long term commitment and translating that partnership into

meaningful and effective prevention action for the overall HIV needs of the larger Haitian community. The REACH 2010 prevention activities have revealed to increase HIV basic knowledge and have increased HIV awareness (The Measurement Group, unpublished, 2006).

Knowing HIV facts alone will not immediately change behavior and reduce HIV risk, CCHER and other members of the REACH 2010 Coalition are integrating HIV evidence-based model interventions coupled with cultural adaptation into their prevention effort to target high risk individuals in the Haitian community. To that end, we will immediately need to train our prevention workforce throughout existing Haitian organizations to meet the demand for conducting effective evidence –based interventions.

In the forefront of HIV positive individuals, we are working diligently with Haitians of providing them “prevention tools” to reduce HIV infection and at the same time to use their experience as an important vehicle for HIV education to non-infected individuals. Next to this prevention steps, utmost important is to assist positive individuals through job training to get “back” to work and to regain their self-worth and we are doing it now.

As indicated above, we have more than 723 Haitians persons with HIV who live throughout the Haitian community. These individuals and their families need strong holistic and social support for the long journey ahead. As we are ready to reflect on the World AIDS Day 2006, we must also focus on our “responsibilité citoyenne” to take care and provide support to the least among us. Once again with a meaningful action, the spiritual leaders and other stakeholders must further be challenged to take on this commitment on a systematic way.

Our staff continue to be challenged by the complexity of housing, social, medical and mental health needs of persons with HIV in the Haitian community. Sequelae from Immigration, domestic violence and problems with the law are additional psychological stressors and have long term implication for current Haitian persons with HIV and their families. Our staff are trained to respond to these emerging problems.