HIV

Nevis Celebrates World AIDS Day 2008

Human World AIDS Day Ribbon

Human World AIDS Day Ribbon In Nevis

Charlestown, Nevis
December 01, 2008

Inclement weather did not derail the efforts of the HIV/AIDS Unit on Nevis to mark the 20th anniversary of World Aids Day on Monday December 1. The march through the streets of Charlestown to Grove Park went ahead as planned with students, health personnel and private citizens under the theme “Stop AIDS Keep the Promise: Lead Empower Deliver”.

During a brief ceremony, Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Hensley Daniel said despite the public’s substantial knowledge on how the disease was contracted and its danger, their behaviour was lacking.

He expressed the hope that that the gap between the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and behaviour could be bridged which would in time, reduce its incidence on the island.

The Health Minister pointed to the cost of treatment for HIV/AIDS patients which he described as a significant amount of money that could be used for other things.

“We have been meeting the cost of those people and just to give you an idea, to feed 12 people with anti retroviral drugs in Nevis is about $4,000-5,000 a month, So if you multiply that by a year you get $60,000.

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Christian Council Embraces HIV/AIDS Counseling

St. Kitts - Nevis Health Minister - Rupert Herbert

St. Kitts – Nevis Health Minister – Rupert Herbert
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
October 31, 2008 (SKNIS)

The Ministry of Health through funding from the Pan Caribbean Partnership on HIV/AIDS and UNAIDS has assisted the Christian Council in organizing a workshop designed to sensitize faith-based marriage counselors on issues relevant to HIV/AIDS counseling.

President of the St. Kitts Christian Council, Rev Fr. Isaiah Phillip said his organisation felt that the three-day “Capacity Building for Pre-Marriage Counselors” workshop was necessary.  He said that this was because the earliest work that the faith-based organization did pertaining to HIV/AIDS in the mid 1980s revealed that often the issues pertaining to the pandemic, disease in general, and people’s response, depended on the connection with their faith.  As such, it was felt necessary to increase the information and understanding of the faith leaders in order to make as broad a Christian response as possible to the pandemic.

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Hurricane Cove Bungalows Donates TO HIV/AIDS Program

Kathryn Wyatt of Huuricane Cove Bungalows Donates To HIV/AIDS Program

Kathryn Wyatt (L) of Huuricane Cove Bungalows Donates To HIV/AIDS Program

Charlestown, Nevis
August 27, 2008

The HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit in the Ministry of Health on Nevis, received a US$3,000 donation from a corporate citizen, to help fund public education about the disease on the island.

Manager of Hurricane Hill Bungalows Ms. Kathryn Wyatt presented the cheque on behalf of the owners Althea and Bob Turner, and the Jonty Thomas Fund, to HIV/AIDS Education Prevention Officer on Nevis Mrs. Nadine Carty Caines. The presentation took place on August 26, 2008, on the Island Main Road at the foot of the Pinneys by-pass road.

“On behalf of Caribbean Cove Bungalows and the Jonty Thomas Fund we would like to donate these sign to you and to the HIV/AIDS Foundation and hope the moneys will be put to other good uses,” Ms. Wyatt said.

The Hurricane Cove Bungalow Manager also explained the reason behind the Turners decision to contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS on Nevis.

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Caribbean Islands Warned About HIV/AIDS

St. Kitts - Nevis PM At HIV/AIDS Confeence

St. Kitts – Nevis PM At HIV/AIDS Confeence
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
August 07, 2008 (CUOPM)

A warning from St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas at the 17th International AIDS Conference to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries that it would not be business as usual in their efforts to achieve the goals associated with universal access.

Prime Minister Douglas is also chairman of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), said while there were many success stories in the HIV/AIDS fight in the Caribbean, several challenges remained.

The Caribbean remains second only to sub-Saharan Africa that has two-thirds or 67 per cent of all people living with HIV worldwide.

UNAIDS says an estimated 20,000 persons in the Caribbean were infected last year with the disease and some 14,000 died of AIDS-related illnesses last year.

“Many successes have been achieved in individual Caribbean countries in areas such as care and treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, as a region there is no certainty that we will achieve universal access goals if we continue to do business as usual,”

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St. Kitts’ Archibald High Wins Inaugural Quiz

Washinton Archibald High's Winning Quiz Team

Washinton Archibald High’s Winning Quiz Team
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
July 07, 2008 (SKNIS)

The National HIV/AIDS programme in St. Kitts has new allies who can provide greater inroads to the critical 15 to 24 age group.

The allies were produced after competing in the inaugural Let’s See What You Know ““ HIV/AIDS Game Show. The competition, which was organized by the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme of (St. Kitts and Nevis), saw two students from the Washington Archibald, Cayon, Basseterre and Sandy Point High.

Schools take part in the Jeopardy-style quizzes. Washington Archibald and Cayon competed in the finale, which was broadcast live from the Old Boy’s School Building on July 4. Washington Archibald High emerged victorious after a rousing contest.

Javari Trotman, 15, and Patrick Williams, 14, were presented the championship trophy by Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, who also serves as CARICOM’s lead Head responsible for HIV/AIDS. After, the duo spoke to SKNIS.

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