WORLD AIDS DAY MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES DR. RUFUS EWING

(Grand Turk: December 4, 2006)….World AIDS Day is celebrated December 1 each year. It is a time of year when we should take a few minutes and reflect on our individual lives and question ourselves as to what we have contributed to the fight to end the suffering, end the discrimination and stop the spread of the HIV Virus. This is a time when we should celebrate life, a life of being free from HIV, and with a commitment to stay free.

This day marks the end and the beginning of a year of care and support for persons affected by HIV/AIDS. Today we should recommit ourselves as individuals, as corporate citizens, as NGOs to the fight against HIV and the stigma and discrimination that it brings and lend a hand to those in need, of moral support, financial support, medical support and good advice and guidance for an once of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.

The National AIDS Programme of the Ministry of Health is celebrating this year's World AIDS Day under the theme community action and support, "Don't point a finger lend a hand". No one stakeholder can single handedly fight this battle and win. It takes a well coordinated community effort with involvement of small businesses, large businesses, NGOs, churches and other community groups under the policy direction and guidance of all government ministries to win this war on HIV/AIDS.

It will take community action and support to disseminate the information that is required for persons to make informed choices and decisions that will change behaviour, hence halting the spread of HIV and eradicating stigma and discrimination.

It is imperative that corporations and government take this HIV threat to mankind seriously. Our very existence, way of life, quality of life and economic viability depends on our fruitful efforts in taking a stance against all aspects of this disease.