Today’s online edition of the Jamaica Gleaner highlights the achievements of an organization called Jamaica Aids Support for Life (JASL). JASL works in different communities across Jamaica, part of their aim is to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS do so with dignity. JASL is actively involved in educating people about HIV/AIDS, the causes of infection with the virus and its prevention. The organization has played a crucial role in changing people’s attitude towards HIV/AIDS and towards those who live with the disease.

One should note that JASL are pioneers in their field as the organization was created in 1991 as a result of the personal initiative of a group of people whose friend was dying of AIDS (according to JASL's website). They decided to tackle the issue of AIDS in Jamaica rather than wait for government intervention. They eventually secured funding but the fact remains that the JASL founders took action first. The Jamaican government has since established a national AIDS programme.

In the Gleaner Article, Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding commends JASL for their work. You can read the article here.