Nevis to observe World AIDS Day; public urged to participate
NIA — The Health Promotion Unit in the Ministry of Heath on Nevis, will host two activities in observance of the annual World AIDS Day on December 01.
Nadine Carty-Caines, Programme Coordinator of the HIV Unit is urging members of the public and the private sector to support the planned activities on December 01 and 02. The first event, “Hands Up” initiative, will be held under the UNAIDS theme “Hands up for HIV Prevention.”
“We are just encouraging persons on December 01 to support the activity to help bring awareness to HIV. It has not gone. We are working towards eliminating HIV by 2030…
“It’s simply asking persons to think about something about HIV that you think needs strengthening, needs improving or we need to work on…You just write the message in your hand…whatever it is that you think and you take a photo and post it on our Facebook page which is “Nevis Hpu,” she said.
The first 20 persons to take part in the initiative will receive a token from the unit for their participation.
On that same day, members of the unit have planned brief visits to various business establishments to conduct HIV awareness session with the employees.
Carty-Caines expressed hope that the business owners will embrace the programme and permit their staff to benefit from the exercise undertaken by the unit in an effort to keep them healthy and continue working to support themselves, their families and by extension, help grow the businesses for which they work.
On Friday December 02, the unit will hold its National Testing Day when results will be available on the same day.
“We will have our National Testing Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Health Promotion Unit on Jews Street, in the Phoenix Building on the bottom level so you just step in. A counsellor will be there. You get your blood drawn. You get your results the same day,” she said.
Carty-Caines noted, that rapid testing would not be offered since it is not being offered outside the Alexandra Hospital’s Lab. In that case, persons can go to the lab, have their fingers pricked and receive result within 30 to 45 minutes. However, that service will be offered at different locations, outside of the lab, on Nevis in 2017.