Lifespring went out to have a first-hand look at the Caribbean challenge from HIV/AIDS. The view from the trenches was markedly different than that from the benches.

The key words that followed us throughout the journey were "hopelessness" and "helplessness." HIV/AIDS workers are suffering almost as much as their clients.

Sufferers stressed, "it is high time that governments and organizations understood that in order for persons with HIV/AIDS to come forward to be tested, there must be hope that their efforts will be rewarded by some benefit." Palliative care and hand holding are not enough to convince most to forgo the few pleasures and status in life so that someone else may enjoy the benefits when they are gone.

The level of existence of most puts their HIV status on the back seat and survival up front. Food, clothes, shelter, and preservation of life itself presents an immediacy that only those that live it daily can convey. Next year has little meaning behind zinc fences and ghetto walls. So many are ill, inca¬pacitated and face death from other things like gunshots and stab wounds that the tomorrow of HIV has to get in line.

In countries like Trinidad, 45% of HIV positive individuals are from three small ghettos. In Jamaica, the majority are from severely marginalized areas. In Antigua, the estimate is 99% economically challenged. The correlation between poverty, hopelessness and the spread of HIV/AIDS is too powerful to ignore. Having said that, HIV/AIDS is also found in king's castles and well to do homes where the people are more easily reached by conventional education and reasoning; they have futures that are at stake.

The main fuel for the fire is the lack of education in life skills needed to comprehend long term realities in environments where the next meal is in doubt and very few can invest in stocks, bonds or futures. The majority neither own homes nor have jobs that will be impacted by proposed inter-government sensitization. 98% of the persons above understand clearly the existence of the HIV virus and its ability to cause sickness and death. What is less well understood is their own ability to take control of their own health by actions different from their peers, relatives and friends.

The world of poverty is not built on independence but on a strong community dependence that has a collective mind and will in most matters. It is this collective mind that analyzes the issues and determines the response. Persons acting outside of this close knit dependant system are ostracized. The action may be as simple as it

becoming known that the woman can make him use a condom he will be judged and found wanting. Never mind that it may save his life; ghetto reasoning, "Men who front up to gunshots do not run from AIDS."

We asked the simple question, what will make a difference?

We received a simple answer. Getting treated.

"If treatment would mean that I could do something about it now to help myself and my family, if I would live longer or better, I would go." (From an HIV positive person spreading the virus)

To question the simple answer, we went looking for a simple answer to the question and found it in St. Johns Antigua, Pages 6, 11 and 19.