AIDS Secretariat to be revived

THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles said on Monday that the AIDS Secretariat would be reconstituted and placed within the Office of the Chief Secretary to ensure that support is given to all interest groups in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

“As head of the THA, I give you the commitment that we shall continue to partner with you to ensure that the various messages that you communicate to the people of Tobago and Trinidad, continue to stay alive,” said Charles, addressing persons who participated in a Walk against HIV/AIDS on Monday morning at Store Bay.

The walk was hosted by Friends of Tobago AIDS Society to commemorate its 16th anniversary. Charles said the walk, from the Dwight York stadium in Bacolet to Store Bay in Crown Point, and in which he participated, “underscores the very potent message that service to humanity is the best work of life.”

He said the THA subscribed to the view of the United Nations Development Sustainable programme on its goal to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.

He said the Tobago AIDS Society has made a tremendous impact in the last 16 years to communicate the challenges created by HIV in Tobago and that it has played a pivotal role in removing the stigma associated with persons who live the disease.

Marcia Washington Frank, President of Friends of the Tobago AIDS Society said she was concerned persons on the island were lowering their level of awareness and were not being cautious enough to takes steps to prevent HIV transmission.