Scores turn out to “know their status”

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRINCES STREET was alive with music and entertainment this afternoon (June 26) as scores of persons showed up to “know their status” at the HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre.

Since 10 a.m., members of the general public have taken advantage of the free and confidential HIV testing being offered. The event, an initiative of the National AIDS Secretariat in collaboration with the Bank of Nova Scotia, is set to conclude at 6:00 p.m.
Speaking exclusively to SKNVibes, National AIDS Programme Coordinator Gardenia Destang-Richardson called the turnout “impressive” and “inspiring”. She informed the event was a component of Regional Testing Day, an annual activity in which countries throughout the region provide free HIV testing to their residents.

“The Secretariat has the mandate of holding a community testing event once per quarter. In 2009, we had a testing in Sandy Point several months ago. However, this activity is extraordinary because it’s in acknowledgment of Regional Testing Day, which is a joint project between the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV and AIDS and the Eastern Caribbean branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia,” she explained.

According to the Coordinator, the objective of the event is twofold, with the overall goal of heightening public interest in HIV testing in order to reduce transmission of the disease.

“First of all, we’re trying to encourage more persons to know their HIV status. As you know, early detection is the best form of prevention. If the disease is caught early, there are steps that persons with HIV/AIDS can take to mitigate its effects. 

“We’re also trying to get non-infected persons to be more careful in their sexual activities. We hope that since they don’t have HIV, they will ensure they don’t do anything to make them susceptible to catching the disease. That includes having unprotected sex or using dirty needles,” said Destang-Richardson. 

In addition to the “Know your status” public awareness campaign and the quarterly testing events, the National AIDS Secretariat has embarked on a series of workplace testing. So far, members of the Royal St. Christopher-Nevis Defence Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Coast Guard, the Parks and Beaches Unit, and the Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) Programme have had the opportunity to become aware of their HIV status.