Dr. Maria Pereira
With an increase in HIV cases in Antigua and Barbuda this year, the Aids Secretariat and other partners will be hosting a symposium to bring more awareness and strengthen prevention practices.
The symposium will be held under the theme “Overcoming Disturbances, Transforming the AIDS Response”.
It will be the first of its kind held in the country. In the past, the symposium was held for healthcare practitioners but this time the focus is the public and will be open for them to ask questions.
“The number one thing we’re going to do is prevention of HIV and AIDS, prevention and as you may have heard earlier also on the local news, earlier this year we had an increase of about 25 cases, which was unprecedented in our previous years. So, we decided we needed to have a symposium to reach out to the public to give them the information.
“A symposium is when we have a two-way conference. So, we’re going to be talking with the public. They’re going to be asking us questions, and we’re going to be having an understanding. It’s not like a conference where we just go and just download the information. The public will have the opportunity to come in, and any question that they need answered, they can get it done at that symposium,” Dr. Maria Pereira, Clincal Care Coordinator said.
Over the years, there was a decrease in cases but of recent, those numbers are increasing, Dr. Pereira believes unprotected sex is the cause.
She is encouraging the public to get tested.
“Testing in Antigua for HIV is very straightforward. It’s done at the AIDS secretariat. They do it every day, and it’s also done privately. So, to have testing done at the AIDS secretariat, it’s better if the person calls to make an appointment.
“The number is 4625975. They call, make an appointment. The test takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and it’s a simple pinprick test,” Dr Pereira added.
Educating the young people is a solution, Dr. Pereira suggested must continue to occur if the country is to see a decrease in cases.
The symposium will be held on November 26 at the Multipurpose Centre.
Several top practitioners in their field will be presenting.
Unprotected sex is still the main cause, so clearly the message hasn’t been sinking in. More awareness needed in schools.
Some of you think it can’t happen to you. That’s exactly how it happens.
I can bet you they wont attend. Some people are still ignorant about HIV AIDS
It’s great to see events like this being organized. HIV affects so many lives, and knowledge is power.
Especially the ladies and men out there living “wild” lives