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Staff at the Ministry of International Business and International Transport, who participated in the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project Quiz, were rewarded recently for their knowledge on the topic at a special prize giving function.
The 40 participants were recognised for accepting the challenge, with almost half of the quiz takers achieving a score of 85 per cent or better.?? For four persons who scored 95 per cent, a tiebreaker was used to determine the winners, with all quizzes scored by the National HIV/AIDS Commission.
Senior Legal Officer with the Ministry of International Business, Stefan Mayers, lauded the participants for their efforts and awareness about the disease and stressed that it was important to "… take your knowledge and [share it]… don’t be ashamed to talk about this disease…this is about life and unfortunately death.?? We need to talk about it".
The first place prize of a staycation for two at Coral Mist went to Julianne Benjamin; second place went to Jessica Taylor, who was rewarded a breakfast for two at the Hilton Hotel; in third place was Deputy Permanent Secretary, Sonia Foster, who won a Cool Runnings catamaran cruise;?????????????????? with fourth place of a food hamper compliments of Image Decor Inc. going to Sherry St. Hill.
Mr. Mayers thanked Minister George Hutson and Permanent Secretary, Gabrielle Springer, for their continued support of the endeavour, which would see similar activities continue until March.?? He also reminded the audience that awareness about HIV and AIDS was crucial for all.
"We still have persons out there who think ???I can’t get it [HIV]’…it doesn’t concern me – once upon a time, persons used to talk about cancer in the same way…and today it’s hard to find a family that’s not been touched by cancer. It’s the same with HIV and AIDS, even though it may not touch your family directly, it may be your friend’s family, somebody in your church…," he said.
The Project was created to sensitise staff about stigma and discrimination in relation to the disease and their effect on persons infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.