Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
Region Three to observe World AIDS Day with Youth Rally
With major emphasis on ensuring that school children are aware of the scourge of the dreaded HIV/AIDS, a grand youth rally is scheduled for tomorrow at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground as part of Region Three’s observance of World AIDS Day.
Nurse Bhagmania (left) and Regional Health Officer Dr Millicent Benjamin display some of the trophies
The activity, which was planned by the Region Three Regional AIDS Committee, will commence at the Leonora Market Square with a school marching competition and conclude at the ground.
The march, according to Chairperson of the committee, Nurse Bhagmania, will see the participation of students and teachers from 20 schools in the region that have been specially selected.
According to the nurse, the various schools, which include primary, secondary and community highs, will in fact be judged in a number of categories during the march for which trophies will be awarded at the rally.
Minister of Education Dr Desrey Fox and a representative of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) are among the officials expected to address the school children.
The annual observance of World AIDS Day was ushered in on Friday with a candlelight walk in Region Three which saw the participation of scores of individuals from various sect of the society.
The walk was kicked off from two points – the Crane Turn, West Coast Demerara and Versailles, West Bank Demerara – and ended at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling where Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran was on hand to address the gathering.
According to Nurse Bhagmania, the committee that was formulated on March 4, 1999 has as its mission statement to educate and counsel people who have been tested positive with the disease as well as those who are negative.
She pointed out that at the time of its commencement it was the vision of the committee to be proactive in its endeavours with the intent of controlling the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region, an objective which is yet to be fully attained.
However, she disclosed the committee has not given up on its objective and is still working arduously through sensitisation efforts to help combat the spread of the disease which has claimed the lives of numerous citizens
The Region Three committee continually works in collaboration with National AIDS Committee and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat but was able to secure assistance for the observance of this year’s World AIDS Day activities from a number of entities including UNICEF, GuySuCo and some prominent business personalities.
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