Anglican schools take a stand on AIDS
There’s an old adage in the advertising industry that says: “Only half of all advertising actually works…but I don’t know which half.” The same could probably be said for the over two decade long awareness campaign against AIDS, in which many efforts have been made and numerous approaches taken. Today the religious denomination in Belize that has been the most active in fighting the virus put its young soldiers in the streets.
Marion Ali, Reporting
They marched to Memorial Park this morning where they assembled for a rally and fair on HIV/AIDS awareness. But the students attending Anglican schools did not take part in the event just for the sake of getting out of the classroom. It was part of their administration’s efforts to teach them about the deadly disease. General Manager of Anglican Schools, Carol Babb, says it is important for children to know as much as possible about this global threat and how it affects individuals and society.
Carol Babb, General Manager, Anglican Schools
“We are doing HIV and AIDS awareness in all of our Anglican schools and we felt that we had to highlight the importance of making the entire country aware of the danger of this dreadful disease because the theme for this World AIDS Day is “Youths Take the Lead” and if we don’t inform our youths about the facts, they might not be around to take the lead.”
“Next week Thursday and Friday we do training of our upper division teachers and prepare them to effectively teach HIV and AIDS awareness in the schools.”
Fourth form student at A.C.C., Robert Archer, fully supports the administration’s initiative.
Robert Archer, Fourth Form Student, A.C.C.
“I think it’s a very good thing because it’s actually teaching us the students that when we get out there, it’s a serious world. We should know what’s happening and let ourselves know that stuff is out there that we can catch and pass onto others and possibly kill them.”
“Other schools should put this into their curriculum, teaching their students what’s out there.”
Meanwhile, clinician for sexually transmitted diseases, George Carr, says while it may take a while to experience symptoms of AIDS, one reckless moment may eventually cost you your life.
George Carr, Clinician
“Three, four, six years later down the road a person might start come up with dry cough. They start to complain of sores in the mouth and start to have rashes on the body which could be a fungus, could be dermatitis, or it could be Kaposis sarcoma which is a form of skin cancer. It will also affect the lungs. It will affect the heart and by that time, the CD 4 count on the immune system is down and it is a quick way of the AIDS symptoms killing you.”
But with new medicines people with HIV and AIDS are living long. Fourth form student, Shauna Lizama, chose to focus on how society treats people with the virus.
Shauna Lizama, Fourth Form Student, A.C.C.
“We could actually brighten up their day and not bring down their self esteem any more knowing that they have a very deadly disease.”
Marion Ali
“So discrimination for you plays no role?”
Shauna Lizama
“It plays no role in my life whatsoever. I think we should all treat everyone the same and do not discriminate because if it was me who had HIV I would feel bad if someone look down on me and did not want to have anything to do with me whatsoever.”
Currently, there are over forty million people around the world living with HIV and AIDS.
Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
Belize joined the rest of the world in observing World AIDS day on December first.
