Blog # 6- Mexico mi querida

Hi fellow Bloggers,

This week has been full of ups and downs and I'm not really sure where to begin this blog. Hopefully I'll keep your attention this week. Part of this weeks assignment was to pick a country and research figures on their confidentiality policy regarding AIDS. I picked Mexico, I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and I haven't been back since my grandfather passed away about eleven years ago. I was really surprised when I found this link on you tube on a Mexican website. Even though its in English, its pretty self explanatory. http://www.aids-sida.org/menu.html In Spanish the title is Goma de Mascar, which means chewing gum...

In doing the research for this assignment, I realized that Mexico is not on board socially, economically, politically and the stigma against the HIV/AIDS population is stronger than ever. We thought things were bad in the early 80's regarding the treatment of the U.S. HIV/AIDS patients we should look at our neighbors to the South. Mexico is a country with some of the lowest HIV infection prevalence rates in the World, but its not because of great HIV education or a low Drug rate; sadly its the stigma and discrimination towards the HIV positive population. Unfortunately, human rights aren't observed in Mexico as they are in the U.S. The Mexican Constitution has added amendments since their admissions into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) concerning Human Rights and the treatment of the population.

"in 1990 the Mexican Federal Government created the National Human Rights Commission (Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos or CNDH). This new institution, with local branches in each of the 32 Mexican states, symbolized the Mexican government's willingness to address human rights issues. Several complications, however, have plagued the efforts of the CNDH to enforce the existing legal mechanisms for protecting human rights. The most important stumbling block has been the inability or unwillingness of the national authorities in Mexico to enforce existing laws and legislation." (wcl.american.edu)

The reason for these low rates can be attributed to the fact that Mexican people just don't want to find out their status for fear of ridicule, discrimination, and fear of losing what little they have. Mexican households are predominantly Catholic and even though the culture is very family oriented, when it comes down to an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, people are very scared. In the U.S. it has been close to thirty years and retroviral drugs are more readily available. The fear factor isn't as much a concern anymore because of the education imposed on our society. The way we treat people who are HIV positive is much different here than in Mexico. We know that this disease isn't contracted by casual contact, and that is a blood borne disease, which is contracted through intravenous drug use and sexual contact with an infected person. However, in Mexico, they don't even know what HIV is and they are still stuck in the 80's when it comes to the education level. Their knowledge is very minimal therefore, because the stigma is so strong, alot of Mexicans fear if they get tested and positively diagnosed they will die for sure. Treatment is not readily available and people's fear dominate their attitudes toward the disease.

In August 2008, in Mexico City, Mexico the XVII World's AIDS conference opened. It is the largest AIDS conference which is held every two years usually in different locations. Last year's location of the conference was a great way to bring light and knowledge to the people of Mexico and the world. This was a wonderful event that introduced new policies in the fight for human rights and confidentiality of status. "Using health data of individuals for public health goals must be balanced against individuals’ rights to privacy and confidentiality, and should be based on human rights principles." (unaids.org)

Did you know that in Mexico women are at the highest risk for HIV because of their husbands and boyfriends leaving for the states for a better life for their families. They leave and often times bring HIV back into their Mexican homes. They never let their families know until its too late when they are symptomatic. So you see HIV/AIDS affects everyone, even the unknowing.

until laterz bloggers

Works cited:

Confidentiality and AIDS in Mexico. unaids.org. website Retrieved October 12, 2009 from http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/Confidentiality/default.asp
Confidentiality and AIDS in Mexico. wcl.american.org.website Retrieved October 12, 2009 from http://www.wcl.american.edu/hrbrief/v3i3/hivmex33.htm