Commuters using public transport will receive booklets to increase their awareness on HIV/Aids. The National Aids Co-ordinating Committee (NACC), through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) yesterday presented 50,000 booklets on HIV/Aids to the Public Service Transport Corporation (PTSC) for distribution.
According to the booklet, the spread of HIV/Aids can be reduced if people protect themselves by refraining from sexual activity, being faithful to one partner and always using a male or female condom.World Aids day was marked on Wednesday.Minister in the OPM Rodger Samuel accepted the booklets from NACC's chairman Angela Lee Loy and then presented to PTSC's supervisor, marketing services Sarah Carter.
Samuel praised the initiative.Speaking during the handing-over ceremony at his office at Nicholas Towers, Independence Square in Port-of-Spain, Samuel said: "The handing-over of these booklets with regards to the education aspect of HIV/Aids is so important and relevant to where we are as a nation and where we are at as part of the process of NACC in advancing the fight against HIV/Aids."
Also present was NACC's deputy technical director Andy Fearon. Samuel, who participated in activities on Wednesday on the Brian Lara Promenade, said he realised people were not "backward."He said: "I had an opportunity to walk on the promenade and I realised that it is not as backward as we think it is but I think much more people are becoming aware and want to be tested and want to know much more and want to be educated to have some knowledge based on HIV/Aids."
He said people will be informed after reading the booklet which "was so relevant to saving not only lives but eventually will save the nation and the economy of the nation."Carter said the booklets would be distributed immediately.
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Fearon said the response for testing was "remarkable."He said a few years ago people were unwilling to get tested. However, now "it is a different story."He said over 4,000 people were tested this week at testing clinics throughout the country."In a normal year we would test about 30,000 people and 4,000 in one week is an incredible figure," he said.Fearon said people were willing to be seen in public getting tested.
l Rambally