Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer
Regional dietician for the Western Regional Health Authority, Marsha Woolery (third left), attends to her booth while social worker for Western Jamaica, Gayle Reid (second left), discusses the importance of a balanced diet with seven-year-old Roger Manragh during the Western Regional Health Authority's Health Expo to commemorate World AIDS Day in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, yesterday. Today is being observed as World AIDS Day. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE ST. JAMES Health Department has expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of persons at the HIV/AIDS exposition held in Montego Bay yesterday to mark World AIDS Day. The officials claim that the public response to the event was a clear indication that people are eager to learn more about the virus.
READY FOR ACTION
"I think it is a sign that we are ready for action," Marcine Whittle, health education officer at the St James Health Department, told The Gleaner.
"We have moved beyond the awareness aspect of HIV and we are at a point where can say, 'This is Jamaica land we love and we need to save our people'. HIV is with us and it appears as though it is here to stay but each of us can make a difference by educating ourselves, and start thinking of ways to protect ourselves from HIV."
The event, which was staged at the Montego Bay Civic Centre in Sam Sharpe Square, is the precursor to a year-long campaign dubbed 'Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise'.
St. James is one of the parishes with the highest incidence of AIDS cases. Since 1982, an accumulated 9,209 cases have been recorded nationally. The Ministry of Health reports that at the end of 2004, the parish recorded an AIDS case rate of 806.5 per 100,000 persons, two times higher than the national rate.
"St. James is experiencing an increase in the number of persons contracting this deadly disease and we are appealing to the country's stakeholders and political leaders to assist in the fight against the disease," she said.
Scores of persons from western Jamaica turned out to view exhibits mounted by a wide cross-section of organisations.
Dennis Wallace, a patron at the expo, said it was highly informative and expressed the desire for more events of that kind.
"I hope that everyone in St. James can come and I hope that this will be held more often because people need to know about AIDS as it is taking over Montego Bay," he said.
Exhibitors included the Ministry of Education's HIV/AIDS Response, J&J Pharmacy, Cornwall Medical & Dental Supplies, St. James Health Services/Slam Condoms and First Choice Videos and Adult Toys, and St. James Parish AIDS action committee.
