Kittitians urged to LIVE UP!
(ZIZ) — Kittitians and Nevisians are being urged to “Live up, Love and Respect” themselves and others and those living with HIV/AIDS.
The Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership (CBMP), Population Services International Caribbean Office, the National AIDS Secretariat and the Caribbean HIV and AIDS Alliance came together yesterday to spread the word and hold a LIVE UP Day Event in St. Kitts.
CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Sonia Boddie as the Master of Ceremonies told the crowd, in advocating tolerance, “Knowledge is Power”.
She says, “We cannot continue to be afraid. Knowing is half the battle and it is important that you know you’re status…once you know you’re status at least you know you are in good shape and once you engage in responsible sexual behaviors and we get tested as often as we can, we are going to ensure that we have a healthy Kittitian populace.”
The Executive Director of the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership, Dr. Allyson Leacock, who visited St Kitts particularly for this event, says the message of tolerance and support for those afflicted with HIV/AIDS is very important.
She went on to say, “HIV is here; it hasn’t gone anywhere. Yes we are very pleased with the progress we’ve made; we are pleased that there has been a reduction of 42% in terms of the level of infection of HIV across the Caribbean but that’s because there has been a shared responsibility.”
During the LIVE UP Day event, there were entertainment in dance, testimonials, musical renditions and a dramatic presentation from the Poinciana Theatre Productions.
Free HIV/AIDS testing also took place while a number of safe sex paraphernalia were on display.