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Dr. K. Allen Ferdinand make a presentation on Stigma and Discrimation |
Challenge Choose Change, an HIV/AIDS initiative which is being undertaken by three community groups kicked off earlier this month and according to the groups' representatives, is progressing well.
The initiative began three Saturdays ago in the Saddlers Community and is designed to address the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis with present focus on the Saddlers and surrounding communities including Ottleys, Lodge, Molyneaux and the Phillips community.
The Saddlers Collaborative Interest Group (SCIG), the Rotaract Club of St. Kitts and the St. Kitts Basseterre Leo Club are the partner groups for the initiative which uses basketball to dispel myths associated with the transition of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
On the first Saturday which saw approximately 30 individuals (between the ages of 15 and 29), during the first clinic, persons attending were exposed to a wealth of knowledge, information and data concerning the HIV virus and AIDS.
During the second clinic which took place on the second Saturday, there was a recap of the previous session and new information concerning methods of prevention, facts and myths, HIV/AIDS transmission was disseminated to the participants.
Each participant was issued a package which bore information about HIV/AIDS virus and past and upcoming clinics.
They were expected to utilize the information as well as share with their friends and relatives.
Clinic three which was facilitated by HIV/AIDS activist, Dr. K. Allen Ferdinand who addressed the issue of stigma and discrimination through a highly interactive presentation using an HIV/AIDS based jeopardy game format.
She also used a DVD documentary about a young girl who contracted HIV/AIDS which chronicled the girl's journey from the time she found out that she had the HIV virus.
This coming Saturday will see two health professionals addressing the participants. They will be speaking about interaction with and tolerance for persons living with HIV and AIDS as well as homosexuality.
~~Adz:Right~~All clinics were based on the marriage of basketball and education and during the basketball segment of these clinics, basketball basics, basketball shooting skills, basketball dribbling and passing skills and basketball defensive skills were and will be addressed.
Representatives of the community groups have indicated that by the end of the project, they were expecting that, among other things, "75 per cent of the target group will be knowledgeable of the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, and the use of preventative tools, 75 per cent of the target group will be able to distinguish between HIV/AIDS facts and myths and 50 per cent of target group will commit to discussing facts and address HIV/AIDS related myths and fairs among their peers.
The project will culminate with a health expo and a three on three basketball tournament which will take place on 19 Aug.
Challenge Choose Change, an HIV/AIDS initiative which is being undertaken by three community groups kicked off earlier this month and according to the groups' representatives, is progressing well.
The initiative began three Saturdays ago in the Saddlers Community and is designed to address the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis with present focus on the Saddlers and surrounding communities including Ottleys, Lodge, Molyneaux and the Phillips community.
The Saddlers Collaborative Interest Group (SCIG), the Rotaract Club of St. Kitts and the St. Kitts Basseterre Leo Club are the partner groups for the initiative which uses basketball to dispel myths associated with the transition of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
On the first Saturday which saw approximately 30 individuals (between the ages of 15 and 29), during the first clinic, persons attending were exposed to a wealth of knowledge, information and data concerning the HIV virus and AIDS.
During the second clinic which took place on the second Saturday, there was a recap of the previous session and new information concerning methods of prevention, facts and myths, HIV/AIDS transmission was disseminated to the participants.
Each participant was issued a package which bore information about HIV/AIDS virus and past and upcoming clinics.
They were expected to utilize the information as well as share with their friends and relatives.
Clinic three which was facilitated by HIV/AIDS activist, Dr. K. Allen Ferdinand who addressed the issue of stigma and discrimination through a highly interactive presentation using an HIV/AIDS based jeopardy game format. ~~Adz:Left~~"
She also used a DVD documentary about a young girl who contracted HIV/AIDS which chronicled the girl's journey from the time she found out that she had the HIV virus.
This coming Saturday will see two health professionals addressing the participants. They will be speaking about interaction with and tolerance for persons living with HIV and AIDS as well as homosexuality.
All clinics were based on the marriage of basketball and education and during the basketball segment of these clinics, basketball basics, basketball shooting skills, basketball dribbling and passing skills and basketball defensive skills were and will be addressed.
Representatives of the community groups have indicated that by the end of the project, they were expecting that, among other things, "75 per cent of the target group will be knowledgeable of the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, and the use of preventative tools, 75 per cent of the target group will be able to distinguish between HIV/AIDS facts and myths and 50 per cent of target group will commit to discussing facts and address HIV/AIDS related myths and fairs among their peers.
The project will culminate with a health expo and a three on three basketball tournament which will take place on 19 Aug.
