Nine Scotiabank branches across the island will offer free HIV testing. This initiative comes as part of a Regional Testing Day in which Scotiabank locations in the Caribbean is partnering with the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS, Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS and the National HIV/STI Programme to reduce the number of infections.

The National HIV/STI Programme is collaborating with Scotiabank to reach as many Jamaicans as possible, to encourage adults, and in particular adult males, to know their HIV status There are currently 27,000 persons estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica and an estimated 18,000 are unaware of their status. A 2008 National HIV/STI Programme survey of knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviour revealed that more women than men test for HIV.

Collaborating for the second consecutive year

Scotiabank and the National HIV/STI Programme are collaborating for the second consecutive year to organise the HIV Testing Day across the island. Joylene Griffiths Irving, director of public, corporate and government affairs, said, "In 2008, when we held the first testing day at three branches we saw approximately 550 individuals turning out to know their status. This year, the bank is tripling this to nine sites, with the major locations being King Street and Liguanea in Kingston, Spanish Town, St Catherine, and Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay, as part of our strategy to make the testing and counselling available to more individuals."

Bruce Bowen, Scotiabank president and CEO, said, "Scotiabank has been a very active corporate citizen in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. Over the last three years, Jamaica has taken the lead in organising a series of outreach projects which seek to build awareness and decrease stigma and discrimination.

"We are fully supportive of HIV Testing Day as we recognise that testing and counselling are key parts in decreasing the rate of infection."