Barbadians should look out for the yellow ???jitney’ bus next Wednesday, World AIDS Day, when staff of the National HIV/AIDS Commission (NHAC), and several volunteers take part in an Island-wide HIV Drive-Thru and National Food Bank Drive, starting at 9:00 a.m.
It will begin at the Commission’s Warrens Office Complex in St. Michael and is being held under the theme, Community Networking: Driving Compassion In; Driving HIV Out.?? Wednesday is also Red T- Shirt Day and the public is being urged to wear a red shirt on that day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS.??
Behaviour Change Communication Specialist at the National HIV/AIDS Commission, Alexis Nurse, pointed out that the activity was designed to mobilise communities.?? "We want Barbadians to see HIV as important and to take part in the response in whatever way they can.?? So, we are looking for persons to volunteer to be part of the local organising committees, as well as to donate food and toiletries to the food bank," Ms. Nurse said.????
The Ministry of Health’s mobile bus will be also be carrying out voluntary counselling and testing along the route.
The Drive-Thru will leave the National HIV/AIDS Warrens Office in St. Michael at 9:00 a.m. and travel along Highway 2A to Sandy Lane, stopping in Holetown between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m.?? From there, it will travel along Highway 1 to make a stop in Speightstown around 10:45 a.m. The National Food Bank drive-thru will pass through the districts of Ashton Hall, Mile & a Quarter, Diamond Corner, Cherry Tree Hill, St. Nicholas Abbey, Morgan Lewis, Shorey Village and Belleplaine.?? They will then travel along Highway 2 to the East Coast, Horse Hill, Sugar Hill, Carringtons, Chimborazo, Lammings, Pleasant Vale, Bushy Park and Market Hill.?? The Drive-Thru will then move along Highway 3B to Golden Ridge and Four Cross Roads, stopping at the Gall Hill Community Centre in St. John by 1:00 p.m.
The bus will then move to Cliff Cottage, Codrington College, Thickets and Church Village, stopping at Six Roads, St. Philip at approximately 2:15 p.m.?? The motorcade will then move to the Grantley Adams International Airport, travelling along Highway 7, through Oistins, to Maxwell, Hastings and the Garrison area.?? There will be a stop at the Bay Street Esplanade in St. Michael at 3:00 p.m., where food and toiletries will be collected, and presented to the Food Bank Manager, Donna Barker. The Drive-Thru will return to Warrens at approximately 4:00 p.m.
??Volunteers will also be present along the route to distribute information on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as to collect donations.?? Persons are asked to give generously.????lbayley@barbados.gov.bb