Antigua HIV/AIDS program manager announces plans for education campaign

Delcora Williams, Antigua's deputy program manager for the AIDS secretariat, on Tuesday announced that the secretariat is waiting for approval from the Board of Education to begin a new HIV/AIDS education and awareness campaign, the Antigua Sun reports.

Williams said the campaign includes establishing booths outside schools throughout the island to provide students with information on HIV/AIDS, including prevention information. Williams said, "We want to get the message out ... especially to the 15 to 19 age group where you find a lot of HIV cases." She noted that the earlier health officials can inform people about HIV/AIDS, the better chances people have of practicing safer behaviors.

According to Williams, the secretariat also plans to provide rapid HIV screening at the office of the AIDS secretariat and at clinics throughout the island. Williams said that the secretariat also plans to increase HIV/AIDS outreach programs and extend these programs to rural areas to inform people about the disease and encourage them to be tested (Jagdeo, Antigua Sun, 3/4).