7 News Belize

Fifth Annual Regional HIV Testing Day
posted (June 28, 2013)
Today was the fifth anniversary of the annual Regional HIV Testing Day, and the Ministry of Health had a booth set up in the Scotia Bank Parking Lot in downtown Belize City.

7News dropped by and we found out that this year's testing day was made possible with collaboration between Scotiabank Belize, The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the National AIDS Commission.

Today, Chairperson of the commission told us why it is important for every member of the public to know their AIDS status.

Kathy Esquivel - Chairlady, National AIDS Commission

"It's happening throughout the Caribbean, it's co-sponsored by Scotia Bank and that's very important. They offered their facilities and they also help with organization and getting people to come out. It's a regional testing day - why testing is important because everybody needs to know their status and take responsibility for their status. So whether you test positive or negative, it's very important."






Marvin Manzanero - Director, HIV Program Ministry of Health

"The Ministry of Health is tagging along with the business community Caribbean wide and almost country wide in promoting the 'regional HIV testing day - it's simply another opportunity to bring HIV in the limelight, given the importance it has, particularly as we are tying up the 2012 data that has something that needs to be further discussed so opportunity is what we are here to do. Basically it's an education session because not everybody coming in is getting a test - some people still have some questions and reference for HIV. There will be prevention strategies, people that are requiring condoms and other information that is going to be provided at no cost."




Pat Andrews - Representative, Scotia Bank
"Our bank has been for the past few years very involved in definitely supporting HIV testing so we decided to join hands with them again this year and if everything works out well - I think we'll continue doing because we do see the need for it."

Reporter
"As a corporate citizen, why did you think it's important for the general public to be involved with something like that."

Pat Andrews
"Well you know we we are a part of this community here an we believe where we work and where we live - we should be part of that community."

The Ministry of Health reports that a total of 830 tests were done countrywide, surpassing their target of 500.

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