RELECTIVE ESSAY

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 Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................3

2. Main Body...................................................................................................................................3

3. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................7

Reference List..................................................................................................................................9

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1. Introduction

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus mainly attack cells of the human body which
are involved in fighting diseases and infections, and make an individual more vulnerable to
attack of diseases and infections. 1.6% of Jamaica's population is estimated to be infected by
HIV. In the last five years, these cases have significantly increased. Currently, Jamaica has
appealed to stabilise this situation of HIV pandemic. The government of Jamaica has been taking
major steps to decrease the number as well as create awareness. I selected a recent article that to
represent the discrimination against the people who are HIV-positive in the workplace
environment of the organisation. The organisation dismisses those employees who are living
with HIV and discloses their performance and ethical reason for dismissal. As a student of
diversity management, I found this article that appeals its discrimination in the workplace
environment as a serious issue.

2. Main Body

In this essay, I focus on the discrimination activities due to having HIV and the poor legislation
policies of Jamaica that are unable to stop its practices. I also aimed to discuss the situation in
more detail with a relevant study of my diversity management course and suggest solutions to
the issue raised by the article. I mention issues addressed in the choice article at first and then
discuss the scenario critically to reveal all the possibilities to negotiate or bear change in society.
Actually, this article has used some anonymous names to represent the reality of the case
situation and explained the scenario more practically.

Issue addressed by the news article

The UNAIDS has published this article on the 1st of March 2022 which is celebrated as "Zero
Discrimination day, 2020" revealing the anti-discrimination legislation rules in Jamaica
(UNAIDS, 2022). I have visualised the case scenario of this article that is revealing the prejudice
concerning HIV infection. The infected people are experiencing discrimination, ill-treatment and
stigma. A huge section of infected people stated that they have loosened their jobs or source of
income due to their HIV. Lack of proper legislation to check on discrimination based on HIV

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status of people in Jamaica. In this concern, I conclude that there must be a legislative policy of
the government of Jamaica that can prohibit these infected people from being discriminated
against. I have also analysed the perception of people about the HIV virus and its infection is
also worrying. Most people do not know how their disease would be treated. Additionally,
medical institutions and health care workers are also breaching those infected people and
delaying or refusing to treat them.

Summary of news theme

First, the case of Michael James has been addressed in this article addressing the issue when he
was dismissed from his job citing his poor performance and tardiness at the workplace as the
reason for his dismissal. Revealing his work track record that was full of appraisal I have doubt
about the dismissal. In further information, I have gathered that his colleague got the knowledge
of being infected by HIV. Now I am also shocked to read the reason behind his dismissal that he
is living with HIV. From the other study of similar cases, I have analysed the fact that infected
people are verbally harassed, discriminated against and gossip was common among experiencing
stigma in Jamaica.

This article has also addressed the implication and data for responses regarding HIV. I have
learned from this article that 21% of the people were anxious about the mistreatment and
confidentiality by health care workers. Living in a society of optimistic prejudice, people fear for
their information of having HIV to be spread. I have visualised here that most people fear going
to health care centres for the check-up of HIV as if their report would come unfavourable then
they were discriminated against and equally treated in society (Athiemoolam et al. 2019).
Society must treat each person equally irrespective of their illness or disabilities. I have also
analysed from there that human nature always distinguishes between superior and inferior
(Morris, 2018). As I am a student of diversity management, I also learned from my study that
people suppress or treat others equally on the basis of their disabilities. In this present world,
discrimination or inequality is still practised.

Returning to fear of stigma about HIV, people used to hide from treatment and being publicly
known or marked as HIV-positive. I have noted from the article that some people have a rigorous
fear of social discrimination that they underground themselves and separate themselves from

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much-needed health and care services (Hem-Lee-Forsyth and Thomas, 2021). This could result
in a delay in diagnosis and treatment services there are required to defeat HIV. Here, I see the
people neglecting their health and required treatment due to social conspiracy and
discrimination. Moreover, Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, State Minister of Jamaica's Health and
Wellness Ministry chairperson stated that due to ignorance of diagnosis and treatment, some
people are aware of being infected with HIV at the advanced stage.

Support and legal framework

I do not observe any ordinary law or legislation that restrict or forbid unlawful activities in the
country. However, the "Jamaica's Charter of fundamental rights and Freedom" ensures the
protection of its people against discrimination to some limited scope (UNAIDS, 2022). The laws
and rights protect the people from being discriminated against on the ground of sex, colour or
race, place of birth or origin, religion and social class. Apart from that, there is some anti-
discrimination law that is currently in the provision of Jamaica as the "2014 disabilities Act"
that ensures disable people are not being discriminated against (UNAIDS, 2022). Additionally,
the "1975 Employment Act" provides supervision to employees from being discriminated
against at the workplace (Figueroa et al. 2020). Nevertheless, these laws are successful in
securing people's rights and safeguarding them from being discriminated against. Even though
these laws are concluded as powerful anti-discrimination laws, there lack legislation for unlawful
or maltreatment.

This article also revealed that UNAID also step forward in 2020 by providing technical and
financial support to some non-government organisations to analyse and figure out the real
scenario of stigma and discrimination through a meaningful survey (UNAIDS, 2022). Peoples'
perspectives are focused on in this survey to retrieve their thought about being discriminated
against and what steps must be taken by legislation to check these discriminations. In my
opinion, this step of UNAIDS seems a milestone in analysing the people's perspectives and
recording their responses. I have analysed from this article that this data would be used to
support the need for some adequate laws and regulations in-laws concerning discrimination
based on unlawful. Moreover, this survey organised by UNAIDS was also used for advocating

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the current legislation to deal effectively with discrimination based on unlawful activities against
vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Reflective discussion

It is the universal right of the people to be treated equally. A human rights perspective states that
each person has the right to be treated and accepted equally in any corner of the world. In this
concern, I can also state that in the present developed modern world, people need to talk about
development and innovation instead of discrimination from multiple perspectives. Additionally,
every individual has the right to be treated equally and provided an equal opportunity by the law.
I have learned from the chosen article that in this current whirl, people are still being
discriminated against. In the case of Jamaica, people are discriminated against on the grounds of
their medical issues.

Being under the attack or infection of any disease is not in the hands of the people, rather they
can only do so for its treatment and preventive measures. Society has a major influence on
prejudice and malpractice. I have gained knowledge in the concern that some ill mindsets people
create a poor section of society, and these very selective people distribute their mindsets and
infect others with their polluted minds and thinking (Bailey et al. 2019). Additionally, I have
learned from this article that people's perceptions affect other behaviours and actions.
Considering the case of the article, people are conspiring about the employee working in the
office. The colleagues have a prejudice against being infected too from HIV-positive people as
they would have to work in the same working environment. Due to the prejudice and fear of the
majority of people in the organisation, the managers have to take the unfavourable decision of
dismissing the employees who are positive (Duncan et al. 2021). The prejudice about the
transmission or spread of HIV virus forces the situation to be more drastic and un-social.

The real fact is different from people's perceptions and prejudice. I have searched for information
about the transmission of HIV virus from one infected person to another. In this regard, I have
learned that HIV can only be transmitted from an infected person to other via the exchange of
body fluid of the infected person such as blood, semen or vaginal secretion and breast milk. In a
newly born child, HIV can possibly be transmitted from his/her mother during the delivery.
Apart from that, physical contact such as anal or vaginal intimation with an infected person leads

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to the transmission of HIV virus (LeMessurier et al. 2018). Moreover, apart from physical
contact, sharing needles, injections or any other medical equipment with the infected people.

From the above study, I have analysed that people are afraid of transmission without any reason.
The Only precaution they have to take in terms of avoiding physical contact with the infected
person. Additionally, almost all are aware of the consequences of sharing injections and syringes.
So no one dares to commit the common mistake that can cause them to have HIV. Additionally, I
have analysed that it is not a big deal to live or work with the infected person in the common
space.

Possible suggestions and solutions

As much I have learned from the chosen article and other information sources, I have analysed
that if precaution is taken then there is nothing to fear about HIV. I have concluded from the
causes of HIV and from the case study and come to a point with some suggestions and solutions
to mitigate the discrimination issues (Kassa, 2018).

First, the government and other non-government organisations of Jamaica have to create
awareness about the causes and transmission of the HIV virus. I can guess, if people learn about
the causes and transmission of this virus then they can take possible actions to avoid being
infected. Through creating awareness, people gain sufficient information about the virus and in
this way; the prejudice and assumptions can be erased from society (Henry et al. 2019).
Additionally, people can move or live freaky without thinking about societal perception. I can
assume the awareness programme solve more than half of the social problem concerning
discrimination activities.

Secondly, the government and other legal organisations have to formulate some strict actions that
can restrict discrimination and malpractice activities. Now I again recall the first case of an
employee being dismissed from his job due to inappropriate legislation to mitigate unlawful and
malpractice of an organisation. Here, I can assume that having legislation to stop unlawful
malpractice will solve the issue completely (Mannand Matzner, 2019).

3. Conclusion

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It is to be concluded from the above study that strict legislation is required to decrease the cases
of unlawful and malpractice discrimination. I have learned human psychology and assumptions
concerning transmissible diseases that might be spread while working or living in the same
space. The case study addressed in the article represents the prejudice of society about some
rumours or unrealistic facts. The best way to remove prejudice from society is through educating
them and creating awareness about the issue. Based on the case study in the article, I have
suggested creating awareness among the local people about the transmission and root cause of
the HIV virus to eliminate discrimination and ill-treatment of infected people. Moreover, the
awareness restricts breaching and gossip that were humiliating the infected person. Additionally,
I also concluded that legislation also plays a significant role in eliminating discrimination in
society. The legislation provides a strength on which they can fight for their justice.
Additionally, the government of Jamaica have to work more effectively to decrease
discrimination practices.

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Reference List

Athiemoolam, L., de Lange, N. and Khau, M., 2019. Using tableaus to explore teachers’
perceptions of how unequal power relations contribute to the spread of HIV and
AIDS. International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS), p.599.

Bailey, A., Duncan, J.P. and Figueroa, J.P., 2019. HIV policy in Jamaica: good form and
substance but inadequate application and accountability.

Duncan, J., Harris, M., Skyers, N., Bailey, A. and Figueroa, J.P., 2021. A call for Low-and
middle-income countries to commit to the elimination of cervical cancer. The Lancet Regional
Health-Americas, 2, p.100036.

Figueroa, J.P., Duncan, J.P., Bailey, A. and Skyers, N., 2020. The HIV epidemic in Jamaica: a
need to strengthen the National HIV Program. Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, 44.

Hem-Lee-Forsyth, S. and Thomas, R., 2021. Caribbean Faith-Based Organisations: Friend or

Henry, A., Prawl, N. and Lashley, B., 2019. Give Us Vision, Lest We Perish: Engaging
Disability at the National Library of Jamaica. The International Journal of Information,
Diversity, & Inclusion (IJIDI), 3(4).

Kassa, G.M., 2018. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection and its associated factors in
Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC infectious diseases, 18(1), pp.1-9.

LeMessurier, J., Traversy, G., Varsaneux, O., Weekes, M., Avey, M.T., Niragira, O., Gervais,
R., Guyatt, G. and Rodin, R., 2018. Risk of sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency
virus with antiretroviral therapy, suppressed viral load and condom use: a systematic
review. Cmaj, 190(46), pp.E1350-E1360.

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Mann, M. and Matzner, T., 2019. Challenging algorithfanti-mic profiling: The limits of data
protection and anti-discrimination in responding to emergent discrimination. Big Data &
Society, 6(2), p.2053951719895805.

Morris, F., 2018. An inclusive, equitable and prosperous Caribbean: The case of persons with
disabilities. Social and Economic Studies, pp.95-119.

Ram, M., 2022. Draft JICA strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention education in Jamaica.

UNAIDS. 2022. The case for anti-discrimination legislation in Jamaica. UNAIDS [Online]
Retrieved at 29th March 2022 from
[Link]
anti-discrimination-legislation

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