Trinidad and Tobago’s Education Minister Anthony Garcia says the five students who tested positive for the HIV virus did not get infected through sexual activities but were infected from birth.
“Those students contracted the disease at birth. It had nothing to do with any STD (sexually transmitted diseases) as a result of sexual activity among school children,” Garcia told a recent news conference.
Last week,in an appearance before a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament, officials from the Ministries of Education and Health confirmed that the five students, aged seven to 11, including three girls were receiving treatment
“They will remain in the system unless their health factors should warrant that they should be removed,” said Guidance Officer in Ministry of Education Darlene Smith, noting that the ministry believes in inclusive education and they should be treated in the same manner as other students.
