Large turnout at Nevis VCT Day
LIME offers top up as incentive

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter, SKNVibes.com

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – OVER 80 persons turned up yesterday (Dec. 17) to know their zero status at the National Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Day held on the grounds of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Nevis.

According to National Health Planner Nicole Slack Liburd, the National VCT Day was hosted jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Nevis HIV/AIDS Unit.

Persons turned up as early as 7:00 a.m. at the client-friendly setting, and Mercellus Lee, a journalist with Voice of Nevis (VON), said he had turned up at a number of VCT Days to encourage others to know their status. He was tested in 1985, 2000 and three months ago.

According to Nadine Caines, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education Officer, the first person who was tested would get a one-month free Cable service.

St. Paul’s Anglican Pastor Earnest Flemming had also turned up at the VCT venue to offer his services in counselling. When asked whether or not Christians ought to be tested, he said, “Christians too should be tested…we need to know our status so that we know whether we are healthy or not.”

Pastor Flemming also said that the Christian community is mandated by God to give care and support to those who are discriminated against and “we have a biblical mandate to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. We should be compassionate and engage in the healing ministry”.

A Christian couple, James and Cecely Browne, turned up at the VCT facility to encourage others to know that testing is a healthy exercise. James and Cecely are both pastors. 

“Whether people have the virus or not, we are all interrelated,” Cecely said in an interview with SKNVibes. She holds the conviction that the fight against HIV/AIDS is a collective effort and noted that Christians should be in the forefront to combat the epidemic.

Dr. Judy Nisbett, who was also interviewed by this media house, said it is better for persons to know their status earlier than later, as early detection enables persons to access treatment and care. “If you are negative, then you can get counselling on staying negative,” the Dr. added.

Health Planner Liburd said the team overseeing the VCT was greatly encouraged by the steady flow of persons that turned up. She also said that questionnaires administered throughout the day would act as excellent tools to inform the Unit on the success or failure of the process. Liburd informed that all the planned activities in 2008 were successful.

This week, a unique programme, ‘Ride the Bus’, was used as a promotion forum to publicise the VCT. Two Peace Corps volunteers, Alexis Lemmex and Adams Lawler, travelled in public buses on several routes on Monday to create awareness about the national VCT Day. They also educated the passengers on facts about HIV/AIDS and listened to their feedback.