SKNVibes.com News: Nevisians marched to mark World AIDS Day

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Date Posted: Tuesday 02 December, 2008

Nevisians marched to mark World AIDS Day
Health Minister says knowledge should match behaviour

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - A colourful but solemn march was held yesterday in Nevis to mark World AIDS Day and many participants turned out with red umbrellas and creatively formed a column depicting a red ribbon on arrival at Grove Park.

The event started from the Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit on Chapel Street and several speeches were made by a number of individuals, including the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, the Hon. Hensley Daniel.

In his address, Minister Daniel spoke on the importance of changing behaviour by utilising available knowledge. He also called for an end to stigma and discrimination and said nobody living with the HIV virus should be discriminated.

Acting Permanent Secretary Nicole Slack-Liburd, who is also the National Health Planner on Nevis, said the island averages three new cases of HIV/AIDS per year. She said 14 individuals continue to access care and treatment services.

“In our own population of approximately 12,000, we have recorded 59 cases of HIV/AIDS since 1987. These statistics have proved to be the motivating factor for the team which attained much success in the Unit’s seven year history.

Liburd highlighted several achievements by the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit, noting it had educated persons from all facets of the population by utilising innovative approaches such as puppetry, sporting activities, dance and drama.

She pointed out that a culturama troop highlighting the ABCDE’s of HIV (Abstain, Be Faithful, Condomise, Do not Discriminate/Do the Test, Educate) has been a mainstay of the programme for the past two years.

“A newly introduced workplace HIV/AIDS education programme at several major business houses has been embraced by the private sector in particular, who recognise the link between the health of their workers, productivity and a thriving economy,” she said.

She said through voluntary counselling, testing services and national testing days, the Unit had led “Know Your Status Campaigns” by encouraging persons to get tested. An average of 900 persons are tested annually

“With plans to scale up rapid testing services, it is our hope that clients can access testing services at two community health centres within the next year, thereby increasing that number by at least 10 percent,” she said.

Liburd said testing provides early intervention and enables people living with the virus to get treatment at an early stage. In Nevis, she added, treatment in the form of anti-retroviral medication is available at no cost to the people living with the HIV virus.

Liburd noted that consultations on legislative reform and the establishment of a Human Rights Desk had already taken place. This, she said, is hoped to empower people living with HIV to know their rights as citizens.

“Issues of male dominance in relationships encouraged by cultural norms are challenged by empowerment programmes which educate women and young girls on self-esteem and provide decision making skills. This target group has surpassed men, with a greater proportion of them now infected.”

Later in the evening, another ceremony, dubbed the Lighting of the Ribbon, was held by the bypass road in Pinneys Beach.