Youth Council discusses HIV/AIDS

The theme: “Feel, Know, Love and Fight” embodied the youth response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic affecting millions around the world.

Minister Roger Boynes in declaring the seminar openly re-emphasised that Government had initiated a Draft Policy which seeks to establish a three-year strategic implementation plan and a unit to fight HIV/AIDS via the youth responses.

Boynes said businesses and government need to be stakeholders portraying roles to mobilise people (infected or not), in order to sensitise and instill a driving force for implementing prevention strategies.

He added that due to high mortality rates, seen in decreased productivity for businesses, and the lack of basic necessities such as health care and education, the impact of HIV/AIDS worldwide had resulted in a number of losses for the public and private sector.

He referred to the Office of the Prime Minister as the “engine room”, since Prime Minister Patrick Manning was officially spearheading the fight against HIV/AIDS. Boynes said that he was proud of the achievements of the Caribbean Youth Dialogue. He said youths today are leaders of tomorrow evidenced by the many achievements in sports and music, by the likes of Brian Lara and Machel Montano.

Dr Amery Browne in his address said that “HIV teaches lessons of teamwork — people working together despite boundaries in order to fight the epidemic.” He also believed that a successful army in order to fight against HIV is equivalent to 1.3 million soldiers (TT’s population), and in turn millions of soldiers around the world including our Caribbean and international counterparts.

Marcelina Gaoses general manager of NAMFISA an organisation native to Namibia, said in her address that she felt strongly about the fight against HIV/AIDS, which has to date infected some 5.1 million adults and children in South Africa. Gaoses stated that HIV exceeds Malaria as the number one most deadly disease in South Africa, accounting for two thirds of the cases reported worldwide. She said Botswana has the highest rate — 38% of women pregnant and living with AIDS, and Uganda, with a population of 30 million people, 50% of whom live with AIDS.

In Nigeria which houses 140 million residents, Gaoses said the life expectancy was 50 years and according to her the epidemic was brought on by tribal fights and struggles, due to changes in the political regime. The youth dialogue features several other activities and runs until May 18th.