Belize observes World Aids Day
lulganalia de perdomo
HIV/AIDS will be the primary focus of activities taking place on Wednesday, as Belize observes World AIDS Day. But the churches got a head start on the discussions with a three day summit that ended on Saturday. Over one hundred and thirty pastors, church leaders and volunteers participated in the workshop, where they were sensitized on how approach the disease and the stigmas associated with it. Also, since the churches play an influential role in communities, they were encouraged to help spread the awareness about HIV/AIDS. The event was held under the theme “Prescription for Hope” and it served as a wakeup call for those in attendance. One of the organizers, Pastor Scott Stirm, provided News Five with footage and interviews from the summit.
Dr. Lulganalia de Perdomo, Samaritan’s Purse, Honduras
“The most important thing is to tell the churches we have to give the answer—part of the answer—for these pandemic issues like HIV. What we want to tell the Christian people is we have a great opportunity in the HIV pandemic because we have the message, the present hope and the eternal hope to share with the people. We know most of the things are happening because the people do not have information. And what we do in this workshop the first day is talk about the truth about HIV; how it is transmitted, how it is not transmitted and because more of the people living with HIV die because of the stigma and discrimination. And that’s why we include into the workshop how to break the stigma in the churches.”
Ruth Smith, Asst Youth Leader, Church of God in Christ, Belmopan
ruth smith
“We don’t have HIV so we don’t really know what people go through and we might look at people differently and we might scorn them and say stuff but when those people stood up and they talked about their feelings and such that really touched me because of the hurt that they are going through, the pain they are going through and we as Christians or young people—because we have young people going through the same things—we’re supposed to be able to be there for those people.”
josephine arana
Josephine Arana, Da Wata Fountain, Punta Gorda
“We should do this often, maybe once a year a summit like this because every time new stuffs come out we never stop learning about HIV/AIDS and the most important thing about HIV/AIDs is to be educated about it. One of the subject that touch me most is the stigma, how to treat people that are infected.”
The summit was organized by My Refuge Christian Ministries and was sponsored by the Samaritan’s Purse Organization from Honduras.
Great job My Refuge…
Belizeans get tested and know your status. HIV in some parts of the world is now treated as a chronic disease which is managed effectively with patients taking only 2 anti-retrovirus tablets and having protected sex (using a condom) with their partners. Therefore people living with HIV are able to live a reasonably normal life.
Not knowing your status is what kills you, as your body is overcome by opportunistic infections such as TB, PCP and PML. I must say it is the stigma and ignorance in Belize that will cause people to lose their lives needlessly because people are afraid to come forward and be tested.
Don’t die of ignorance either way, protect yourself, if your are negative by wearing a condom and if the result is positive try to access the drug which will save your life and perhaps that of your offsprings.
I have met and worked with people who are HIV+ for more than 20 years, but key to their success is that they knew their status early and started looking after themselves. These people actively worked with their doctors to checked their viral load (CD4 T cells, Liver function etc) and healthy living approach. However I do realise the one thing that these people had is the ability to freely say they were HIV+ without the threat of victimisation or discrimination.
I would have like to see more effort made in Belize on World AIDS day, absolutely no disrespect about the churches work. However I would have like to hear more from the ministry of health and the NGOs etc. As it is clear the message isn’t getting through in Belize with an ever growing HIV+ population.
ppl sud get there AIDS test n b proud of it caz they kno what there doing out there n dats the second thing killing Belize other than GOB & crime.