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To amplify the voices of the vulnerable, the marginalized and the excluded. |
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“The Haitian Government must apply a policy to guarantee care for AIDS orphans,” Jean Saurel Beaujour declared, Executive Secretary of the Association for National Solidarity (ASON).
He made this statement, in La Vallee, a village in South-East Haiti, immediately after visiting a relative of a girl of 12 years old, who is HIV-positive. Her mother and father have already died of AIDS.
“This little girl is forced to move to Port-au-Prince to live with another grand parent, because she is exposed to the prejudice and negligence of her guardian in La Vallee,” Jean-Julien Raymond said, who is in charge of the Club Cool of Jacmel.
“In Marigot, a village nearby, four children left behind by a father deceased of AIDS, are subject to the numerous prejudices of the community,” Jean-Julien Raymond confided.
“A policy to provide home care to AIDS orphans would be more efficient,” Begerl Chery suggested. He is the Activities Coordinator of ASON. Read more ...
Since the 1980s when the first cases of AIDS were registered, the rate of sero-prevalence has not stopped increasing. More than 5% of the adult population of Haiti is infected. Surveys have revealed a lack of information, linked to the characteristics of people who are rooted in superstitions.
Having established this fact, the persons in charge of Public Health, in partnership with numerous national and international organizations have set up the Caravan project for the year 2000. In this initiative, which will take place in various cities of Haiti, certain artist and many youth participate. The Caravan is a campaign which disseminates information related to AIDS and sensitizes the population about this epidemic.
After Jacmel, St-Marc, Gonaives and Port-de-Paix, during 18-20 August, Les Cayes and Miragoane have hosted the Caravan of Artists and Youth against AIDS.
The procession of the Caravan consisted, among other, of representatives of the ministry of Public Health, including its Minister Michaelle Amédée Gédéon, Dr Joelle Deas Van Onacker in charge of the STD/AIDS unit, the youth of Volunteers for the Development of Haiti (VDH), representatives of the Association for National Solidarity (ASON), UNAIDS, FOSREF and the Panos Institute. It made its first stop in Miragoane.
Read more ...“Young people, friends, I don’t come to share sorrow with you, but a word of hope to all youth who want to know that responsible love is the best code of conduct for the protection and fullness of life. Together we will defy AIDS.”
That’s how on 20 July the seropositive and valiant Esther Bourcicault Stanislas, speaking in her home-town Saint-Marc at the opening of the Caravan of Youth and Artists against AIDS, bravely called on youth to take their destiny in their own hands.
The first stop of this tour of the Caravan was made in this city, which is situated at 96 km from Port-au-Prince. The tour would visit, during five days, the Departments of the Artibonite and the North-West. All activities focused on the awareness and commitment of youth for the triumph of life over death.
On behalf of the Association for National Solidarity (ASON), a group of persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, Jean Saurel Beaujour unreservedly presented the determination of the members of the association to pursue the fight until the final victory, in spite of the pain that the illness brings to people living with HIV/AIDS. Read more ...