30 November 2001

Kingston, Jamaica: Ainsley Reid raises awareness of HIV/AIDS in his country, Jamaica. A national UN Volunteer and the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of the Jamaican Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (JN+), Ainsley speaks with authority -- he has been living with HIV/AIDS since 1992.

The UN Volunteer channels his efforts to help people with HIV/AIDS protect their rights and meet daily needs. His JN+ network reaches out to community members and "provides capacity for people living with AIDS to get involved with national responses." Involvement comes in many forms: donation of medical supplies, HIV/AIDS awareness workshops within communities, and community care assistance programmes.

Through the 50 trained community members, JN+ enables people living with HIV/AIDS to take responsibility for their own wellness, encouraging them to use community resources available to them. The network offers outreach to more than 200 people.

A recognized resource person on HIV/AIDS, Ainsley also chairs the Care and Counselling Subcommittee of the National AIDS Committee in Jamaica. Additionally, he has taken part in the Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS and the Caribbean Regional Network for people living with HIV/AIDS. He has advised the Jamaican Red Cross and is a current member of the HIV/STD advisory board.

Ainsley's expertise on involving people living with HIV/AIDS has led him to work with many organizations such as the Peace Corps, UNAIDS Caribbean, and the International Year of Volunteer (IYV) 2001 National Committee. He speaks highly of the people and organizations he works with.

"My involvement does not include just [me] Ainsley," he says. "There are many people from many agencies involved: UNAIDS Caribbean, UNV, development programmes, the Jamaican Minister of Health, all helping and playing a critical role in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS."