AIDS Fair and Game Show prize-giving ceremony held at Independence Square
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com
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Getting tested for HIV/AIDS
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS part of the ongoing activities to foster awareness and sensitisation of the risks associated with HIV/AIDS, the Ministry of Health held an AIDS Fair in the Independence Square yesterday (Dec. 17).
The organisers created a festive atmosphere with Carnival music for persons making use of the opportunity to get free HIV/AIDS testing. Those solely seeking information availed themselves of related merchandise including included T-shirts, pamphlets, condoms and wristbands.
The prize-giving ceremony for the ‘Let’s See What You Know Game Show’ was held simultaneously and featured brief speeches from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Elvis Newton; Director of Youth Geoffrey Hanley and CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) Jihan Williams.
According to Williams, the objective of the quiz was to educate young persons about the dangers associated with risky sexual behavior in order to promote behavioural change.
Fellow CYA Ian Richards divulged that the inaugural initiative was part of the Ministry’s ‘The More You Know’ campaign, which included other activities such as Public Service Announcements, Volunteer Counseling and Testing (VCT) programmes and will see the production of an animated series on YouTube in the near future.
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One of the winners of the quiz show
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The quiz winners were Jabari Trotman and Patrick Walters from the Washington Archibald High School each receiving a laptop, while the school received a desktop computer.
Newton told SKNVibes that the Fair was just one component of the Ministry’s plan to bombard the public with information regarding HIV/AIDS.
“We believe everyone should know their status because the more persons who know, the more of them who will seek treatment and care and practice preventative measures.
“The Ministry is embracing all messages, whether it’s one of abstinence, using condoms, having one partner, etcetera. We realise it is only through a holistic approach we will see a reduction in the incidences of HIV/AIDS within the Federation,” he stressed.
Newton also said that the AIDS March through Basseterre would continue to be an annual awareness activity and disclosed the Ministry’s intention to hold VCT programmes at least once every quarter.
~~Adz:Left~~
