Editor’s Note The Jamaica Red Cross Youth movement has been in existence since 1948, reaching the most vulnerable in Jamaica. The tremendous work being undertaken by our youth is now being given an opportunity to be showcased through our Link Up eZine. Link Up eZine aspires to connect Red Cross Youth in Jamaica and the Caribbean region through articles which inform, motivate and encourage the spirit of volunteerism in Health, Care and Disaster situations. This e-magazine is also an integral part of the Jamaica Red Cross’s Green Initiative in tackling Climate Change. Climate change is an issue that affects the entire globe with a direct impact on vulnerable communities. The creativity and resilience of our youth will be necessary and key in taking action to reduce the impact of Climate Change. Based on the outpouring of over 840 youth at the recently held National Youth Rally, with the theme “Creating a solution to Pollution”, we strongly believe we are ready and willing to fulfill our commitments and continue our hard work.
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Volunteers Rally to Create a Solution to Pollution
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Jamaica Red Cross National Youth Rally Results
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Aubrey Stewart - President, Cornwall College Red Cross Link
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deCarteret College: A Passion for Outreach
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Ashanta Osbourne-Moses Destined to Serve Out of School Youth Get S.A.S.S.Y. Moya Black: Learning to lead
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Vox POP
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'Be Your Own Beautiful' A Perfect Partnership
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social Networking Tips for Red Cross Members
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What You Should Know About HIV/AIDS
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calendar of events
the Seven Fundamental Principles Humanity The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.
Neutrality In order to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
Impartiality It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
Unity There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.
Independence The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.
Voluntary Service It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.
Universality The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.
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Volunteers Rally to Create a Solution to Pollution
Special Feature
The serene atmosphere at Hope Gardens was charged with the energy of over 840 young people as volunteers from more than 25 registered Red Cross links across Jamaica descended on the facility to celebrate the organization’s annual Youth Rally on May 20th. This year’s theme was “Creating a Solution to Pollution” and the links were challenged to demonstrate this idea in several competitions, namely Culinary Arts, Banner, Creation of a Functional Item and Community-based Environment Project. “The theme came out of a need for Jamaica Red Cross youth to be more ‘green’ and work more actively in climate change,” said Stacy-Ann Tomlinson, Programmes Director for HIV and Youth. To show their own commitment to the theme, even before the Rally took place, the Red Cross staff began recycling waste paper headquarters offices and this has remained an ongoing project. Their enthusiasm must have been felt all across the island because the youth volunteers outdid themselves with the items they created. “The schools really understood the theme. This was demonstrated in their presentations. They really stepped up their game, especially in the Culinary Arts and Functional Items categories. The creativity was evident,” said Xavier Biggs, Project Coordinator for the Men’s Health programme at the Red Cross, who also chaired the Rally’s planning committee. Among the many items created by the students were piggy banks made from bottles, dresses made from newspapers, a welcome mat made from old phone cards, a ball made from stockings, portable faucets made from gallon bottles and a place mat made from toilet paper rolls. The culinary arts competition also saw students creating tasty dishes from items that would normally have been thrown out. “The banners were very beautiful. And they were all done by the students, no professional artists. It was very inspirational,” Tomlinson said. Micro-economic Initiative Project coordinator Marja Francis, who was one of the judges for the Community-based Project Competition, agreed. “They were able to explain what their presentations entailed. For the community-based project, they demonstrated how they [recycled] waste material around their school communities and implemented garbage disposal measures,” she said. “The Community-based project is something we want the students to keep doing. We don’t want the theme to just be a one-off thing,” Tomlinson added. The Rally also featured display booths by the Discovery Bay Marine Park, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, which had a lion fish display. Guest speaker,
Junie Bolton, Public Education Officer at, spoke to the students on the importance of preserving our cultural heritage, which she linked with the theme of protecting and conserving the environment. There were also several fun activities for the participants, including a road march down Hope Road and back to the Gardens. This was led by the St. Patrick’s Foundation marching band. The contestants from the Miss Teen World Jamaica pageant were also in attendance. The pageant has partnered with the Jamaica Red Cross to provide peer educator training to the 18 contestants. This was their first public appearance, where they interacted with the volunteers and also assisted with judging the competitions and handing out awards. Also showing their support were Martin Gooden and Hope Munroe, President and Vice President of the JRC, respectively. In addition to the creative competitions, the links also took part in Drill, Quiz and First Aid contests. The Jamaica Red Cross would also like to express appreciation the organizations that partnered with us to help make the National Youth Rally a success: Caribbean Broilers, Supreme Ventures, First Caribbean Bank and Hope Gardens. 4
Special Feature
Jamaica Red Cross National Youth Rally Results Category 1
ACtivity
School
Category 3
ACtivity
School
Category 2
ACtivity
School
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Aubrey Stewart - President,
Volunteer of the Month
Cornwall College Red Cross Link
Why did you decide to become a member of Jamaica Red Cross? The decision to be a part of the Jamaica Red Cross came about in the year 2008, due to the extensive work that was being done in communities by the Red Cross and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) when it comes on to disaster preparedness and emergency response during natural disasters, [and] I admired their mobilization. Hence, that motivated me to take on the role of being a member who was enthused by volunteerism [and] I joined the Red Cross group at my school.
How long have you been a part of the organization? Since 2008.
What do you like most about being involved in Red Cross? The activities provided by the organization. My favourite is the HIV and AIDS awareness training and I also always look forwards to National Youth Rally. This, I believe, is an amazing way of improving the social development and national unification of the Red Cross links across the nation [as] a trumpet call of the effectiveness of the seven Fundamental Principles.
What are some of your responsibilities as President? Well, they are vast responsibilities as being an elected leader, a brother figure and a positive role model and team leader comes
with having to know the reaction of each member in order to move forward from any impediment we may face as a team. One of the greater responsibilities is to deal with administrative matters of the group, membership and intervention programmes, motivating, mobilizing and executing tasks on time.
Why is it important for young people to volunteer? To give service to your community and your nation at large, by working without a desire for gain for yourself but for others who can’t help themselves, for example, the homeless or the elderly.
Besides Red Cross, what are some of your other interests? I really gravitate to youth and youth involvement in the community, community- and parish-based projects, which lead to growth in youth development. I’m currently President of the Parish Youth Council of St. James, which is the supervisory body for youth clubs in the parish of St. James. I am also currently involved in an project with a youth organization in St. James aimed at sensitizing youth to the effects of HIV and AIDS and how to protect themselves against this virus, in collaboration with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation.
What are your career goals? My aspiration is to be a lawyer, then a politician.
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deCarteret College: A Passion for Outreach
dèCarteret College dèCarteret College was originally founded as Diocesan College for boys on January 19, 1919, by Lord Bishop George Frederick Cecil dèCarteret. It began as a preparatory school with fewer than 20 students. In 1931, the school’s name was changed to the dèCarteret College Preparatory School. The secondary department was added near the end of the 1950s when a completely new school was built on what was then the football field. The preparatory school was phased out in 1974. The first batch of girls was also admitted. The Red Cross has been a part of the dèCarteret College tradition for a number of years. However, the link became inactive after several years and was reactivated in 1996. Today, it boasts a total of 30 members with about 20 consistently active participants. The club is ably led by upper 6th former Lasana Allen and her Vice President, Dedan Tyndale. The Junior President, who will be in charge of the link come September, is Deadra Dallas. The Link Patron is Blanche Burke, who is also the school’s nurse. The dèCarteret College Red Cross link meets every Thursday at 8:40 a.m. Members come together to share information on topics such as health and wellness and plan activities. “Our main function is to serve one another in various ways and stimulate and motivate each other into becoming more noble citizens,” Nurse Burke said.
Link of the Month
First Aid: Assisted with Sports Day activities. HIV Sensitization: The link’s Peer Educators are active throughout the school and work in collaboration with the Cadet Corps.
Youth Rally:
The link participated in seven areas of competition: Drills, First Aid (placed 2nd), Culinary Arts, Banner (placed 3rd), Community and School-based Environment Project (placed 1st), Functional Items (placed 1st) and Quiz (placed 1st). They placed 1st overall in Category 3: 14-17 year olds.
School Activities: The link planned a Teacher’s Day treat for the faculty. There was also a flood preparation display by club members who have been trained in disaster response by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). Outreach: The link has ‘adopted’ the Woodlawn School of Special Education in Mandeville. They initiated a garbage control project to help students reduce pollution, solicited garbage drums and classroom bins, donated a number of fruit trees, organized a treat with the Cadet Corps and Drama Club. They also work with Curphey Home, a residential facility for veterans of the First and Second World Wars. Members donate toiletries and treats to the home and also planted several trees.
Major Projects - 2011 Fundraising: The link participated in school’s Jamaica Day celebrations, where members sold hominy corn porridge. Members also hosted a movie day, the proceeds of which will aid in the expansion of the tuck shop. 7
Ashanta Osbourne-Moses Destined to Serve
Link of the Month Caribbean Profile
“I am not at all sure I ‘decided’ to do any of this… but I really believe that for whatever period of time that is destined, this is what I am meant to be doing.” This is how Ashanta OsbourneMoses sums up her varying roles within the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which have become her life’s work. The young Guyanese national, who grew up in South Rupununi’s ‘Culvert City’, discovered the Red Cross in 2002 at a time when she was searching for direction for her future. She was taking a break from studying and flipping through television channels when she unknowingly stumbled into her destiny. “There were two ladies from the Guyana Red Cross on a local talk show sharing information about their programmes and encouraging persons to come in and volunteer. I had no idea what they were talking about, as up until this point I’d had no exposure to the Red Cross,” Ashanta said. She made a phone call the next day and a few weeks later, she was officially a volunteer. Since then, Ashanta has held several positions within the Guyana Red Cross, including First Aid Instructor and First Responder, National and Regional Trainer – HIV AND AIDS Peer Education, Vice President and Secretary of Guyana Red Cross Youth, Focal Person of the Coordinating Committee - Caribbean Red Cross Youth Network and her current post as Chair of the IFRC Youth Commission. In this position, Ashanta and her eight-member team’s key responsibilities include advising the President and Secretary General of the IFRC on issues affecting youth in the Movement, promoting and assessing the implementation of the youth policy decided by the General Assembly or the Governing Board, and seeking youth opinions on the implementation of relevant IFRC policies and communicating these opinions to the Statutory Bodies of the Movement. Ashanta was also employed as the First Aid Coordinator and HIV and AIDS Field Manager, and is currently the HIV and AIDS Programme Manager for the Guyana RC. During the last year, she has worked to streamline the Programme’s various projects to ensure that they are well-integrated and aligned to the ‘Seven Ones’ Principle of the Global Alliance Framework. The team is also gearing up to work with sex workers and mine workers in the Guyanese hinterland. “This is unchartered territory for the Guyana RC, so with the support of the American Red Cross, we have been busy developing the methodologies and building the strategic partnerships for working with these groups,” she explained. Ashanta is currently consumed with preparations for the March 2012 Inter-Americas Conference to be held in Haiti. Her work-
ing group on volunteering and youth will be presenting a paper at the conference, which will produce key elements for the InterAmerican Plan 2011-2015. The group will also organize a preconference youth event and coordinate workshops during the conference. She is also leading the coordinating the Caribbean Red Cross Youth Micro-projects on Violence Prevention in St. Lucia, Grenada and Barbados. To say her plate is full would definitely be an understatement, but Ashanta genuinely loves her work and believes in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. She also encouraged other young people across the region to volunteer as this fosters a sense of responsibility to each other and to the earth. Youth make up almost 50% of the Red Cross Red Crescent volunteer base and have brought innovative dimensions to programmes such as Club 25 and HIV peer education, as well as the Movement’s use of technology. Going forward, Ashanta would also like to see young people become active stakeholders in the Movement’s decision-making processes. 8
Profile
Out of School Youth Get S.A.S.S.Y. The Sexually Aware Sensitized and Savvy Youth Project (S.A.S.S.Y.) seeks to reduce the infection rates of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among Out of School youth aged 15-24 years old, who have dropped out of the traditional educational system. This innovative programme was established by the International HIV and AIDS Alliance to increase access to HIV prevention services in the Caribbean. It was designed on the premise of true peer outreach and bringing services to the people. The Alliance launched a behaviour change intervention model which involves a team of local community outreach workers and community-based groups at the frontline of intervention delivery. It applies non-traditional approaches to reach those persons who are marginalized and not reached by mainstream HIV prevention and other sexual health services. The S.A.S.S.Y. project offers a culturally-appropriate package of interventions that includes information on risk and vulnerability; the promotion and provision of condoms, counselling and testing. Referrals are peer-delivered at “hot-spots”. The S.A.S.S.Y. project evolved from the urgency of youth limited by their sexual awareness but vulnerable to STIs as a result of their sexual behaviours. The medium that will be used to reach the out-of-school youth is edutainment, which takes place within the vulnerable communities on the street corner, bars, shops and barber shops, youth clubs and churches. The behaviour changes that we want to promote within this priority group are: • Using a condom in all sexual acts. • Reducing the number of sexual partners they have at the same time (concurrent partners). • Getting tested for HIV twice yearly. • Not discriminating against persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). • Being equipped with knowledge of prevention and transmission of STIs. • Always having access to youth-friendly health care services. The youth conducts interventions through drama, deejay, singing and dub-poetry, which is very popular among the target groups. Ten outof-school youth were selected from performing arts auditions held at the Jamaica Red Cross Headquarters. These individuals were trained as Peer Leaders who venture into the vulnerable communities, increasing sexual awareness by conducting condom demonstrations, risk assessment, condom distribution and interactive sessions with residence. They also visit police youth clubs, football clubs and church groups, conducting several interactive simulations to increase knowledge with interactive activities. Based on these interventions, S.A.S.S.Y. receives consistent requests from the residents they have sensitized to create community youth clubs in partnership with the Jamaica Red Cross. The project has reached over 1,400 persons of which over 800 are Out of School Youth.
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Profile
Moya Black Learning to Lead
Many young adults may not at first be interested in voluntary programmes. However, some have overcome this norm and have gained invaluable experience that remains with them forever, often realizing that volunteerism is not only a duty but a lifestyle.
the Peer Leader training. Soon after answering the call to volunteerism, she became Peer Leader for the Red Cross and has grown to love the programme and what it has to offer. It has taught her lessons such as exercising her human rights as well as safe sex practices.
Moya Black is one such person. She describes her experience as a Red Cross volunteer as “diverse” as it “helps to broaden your spectrum as a person and teaches you how to communicate with people a lot better.” Moya doesn’t only share the information received from the voluntary programme within workshops and in the field, but also with friends and family members, making her experience gained very useful in life.
Even though the training has been a pleasant experience, it also has its challenges, such as “knowing exactly how to approach individuals with HIV. But overall, it’s a learning experience and I like imparting information to the public in order to influence behaviour change in our youths,” she said. One of the key features of voluntary service is to increase knowledge and decrease stigma and vulnerability. This has been captured in Moya’s character and personal belief. “I can apply myself to society in a way that I’m not uncompromising. I no longer look at persons and discriminate or stigmatize someone’s background.”
In high school, students are not fond of being a Peer Leader and found being a prefect or student council member more appealing, as was the case with Moya. “I attended a traditional high school. During my time there, when I heard ‘Peer Counsellor’ or ‘Peer Leader’, it was not as much of a big deal. What I wanted was to be prefect or sub-prefect,” she stated. After leaving high school, Moya was recruited by the Red Cross but didn’t have much time to complete the training. However, she was soon recruited again and this time decided to complete
Overall, Moya has equipped herself with an abundance of knowledge gained from Red Cross and will pass it on to anyone who is willing to listen. “The truth of the matter is we are all people who have the right to live how we want to live, as long as we do not infringe on another person’s rights while exercising ours.”
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Vox Pop
Do you think it’s important for teenagers to be responsible and practice
correct
etiquette
on
social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter? Ayele Enwright, 16 years old: “Yes, for many reasons. One of those reasons is that we are
young people and must understand that and to expose certain pictures on the web could be dangerous due to the types of people on the web, such as perverts and rapists. What people see on those pictures could give you a bad reputation. “ Britney Simmonds, 14 years old:
“Yes, because you should always behave in a proper manner and have respect for yourself by not exposing yourself on the World Wide Web. You should remember that it’s not only your friends adding you but there are other members of society who will view your profiles.”
Aphika
Welsh
Aphika Welsh, 14 years old:
“Yes. I respect the persons on my page. If I should post a naked picture, for example, when I would try to get a work they probably wouldn’t hire me because they would think I wasn’t responsible and would make the company look bad.” Khrishner Arnold, 17 years old:
“These teenagers know that there are persons out there who look on their Facebook page to find every detail about them, and may even try to approach them by going where they live and watching their every move. Therefore, teenagers should not put too much information or details about themselves on the World Wide Web.”
Ayele Enwright
Britn
ey S
imm
onds
rnold
ner A
Khrish
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Impact
'Be Your Own Beautiful' A Perfect Partnership
ROYANNE ANELL LINDO, HAUGHTON, JHE AN, KRISERVILLE, TAIEKE AMARA DUNC SH MM T, SO BEN ELL IEL NN DR N MINTO, LOR, DA E HALL, JA WE, SHANIQU ): DANIELLE TAY MISSING: TALEO . RO (L-R ER E G LM MA TIN PA RO SIT ): IGE H. STANDING (L-R NIKA SMITH, PA VENESSA WAUG CELIA WEISE, TA ICE WATSON, BRITANNY BIRD, DE SILVA, SHAN VIA GORDON, DA S, GIN HIG ANN E JAMES RIE, CHANIQU TIFFANY GUTH
Don’t let the makeup, jewellery and gowns fool you: today’s pageants are about more important issues than just beautiful girls strutting around in heels, trying to win a glittering tiara. The young ladies involved in the 2011 Miss Teen World Jamaica pageant are proof positive of this, as they have taken on the task of educating their peers about HIV and AIDS and safer sexual practices through a peer educator training programme with the Jamaica Red Cross. This initiative is part of the pageant’s mission. Under the theme ‘Be Your Own Beautiful’, it provides each of the 18 young ladies, aged 13-19, with opportunities for personal growth and friendships as well as building self esteem. “HIV and AIDS awareness is needed in that age group. It’s the group most affected by lack of knowledge,” said Noel Falcao Roberts, pageant organizer and executive producer. Currently in their final weeks of training, the girls have embraced the programme and are “doing pretty well,” Mr. Roberts reported. The comprehensive training sessions include basic HIV and AIDS facts, educational games and situational response strategies, which all encourage the participants to use the knowledge they have gained. This is a vital component as contestants will be called upon to demonstrate their knowledge for the Most Aware award during pre-judging activities, where they will be interviewed and asked to come up with a tagline to use amongst their peers to boost HIV and AIDS awareness. Additionally, the overall winner of the pageant will become a spokesperson for the Jamaica Red Cross.
The ladies have also participated in the Youth Rally, which took place at Hope Gardens on May 20th. In this their first public appearance, they took the opportunity to introduce themselves to the attendees and also participated in a give-away contest as well as assisted with judging the Culinary Arts and Arts and Crafts competitions and general volunteer work. The contestants have not yet undertaken any official projects as peer educators, but Mr. Roberts explained that the organizers are arranging a visit to a hospice, which they might adopt as an ongoing project. He also expressed the belief that the training from the Jamaica Red Cross will have a continued impact on each young lady’s life. “They are all from different walks of life, but you can see that they have all definitely taken an interest in the training and see the importance of being aware. It is making them better individuals. I hope they implement the knowledge into their own lives as well as continue to impart to their friends and family,” Mr. Roberts said. The Miss Teen Jamaica World Pageant provides international exposure for the contestants, along with scholarships and extensive personal development opportunities, such as the peer educator programme. The winner will compete in the Miss Teen World pageant this August in Texas, USA. The Grand Coronation show, themed “The Jewels of Jamaica” will take place on Saturday, July 9th at the Grand Palladium/Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa, in Lucea, Hanover.
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social Networking Tips
Social Media & You
for Red Cross Members The American Red Cross has developed an online communication document that is intended to guide its members’ social media behaviour and promote responsible use of online sites. According to the document, “If you choose to identify yourself as a Red Crosser or discuss matters related to the Red Cross on a personal Web site or blog, many readers will assume you are speaking on behalf of the Red Cross. In light of this possibility, your communications should be transparent, ethical and accurate. Please abide by the Code of Conduct and these online guidelines:” Use Disclaimers- Make it clear that the views you are expressing are yours alone and not necessarily those of the Red Cross. Be Transparent- If you discuss the Red Cross, then you have a duty to disclose your role within the organization. Be Accurate- Even though your blog posts may be primarily made up of personal opinion, do your research well and check that your facts are accurate. Be Considerate- Remember that anyone, including your colleagues, may be actively reading what you publish online. It’s a good practice to imagine that your supervisor and your family are reading everything you post. Don’t Reveal Confidential Information- Clients and stakeholders should not be cited or obviously referenced without their approval. Never identify clients or partners by name without permission, and never discuss their confidential details. Respect Copyright Laws- Show proper respect for the laws governing copyright and fair use of copyrighted material owned by others, including the Red Cross’s own copyright and trademarks.
Respect Work Commitments - Please remember that blogging and other social networking activities are personal and should be done on your own time unless you have specifically been assigned to perform an online activity related to your Red Cross responsibilities as an employee or volunteer. The Fundamental Principles - As a Red Crosser, you have already made a commitment to abide by the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Please follow these principles in your online communications. For more information visit www.redcross.org.
Tell Us About Your Blog- National headquarters does not intend to “police” the blogging community. Quite the contrary: we want to aggregate all the powerful stories Red Crossers are telling and showcase your individual contribution to the overall mission. Be Generous- The Internet is all about connecting with links, so if you see something interesting, valuable or relevant, link to it! Be a Good Blogger- We suggest if you decide to jump into the blogosphere, do so with a commitment to post regularly and well; link to others and show your unique personality. 14
Tips and Facts
What You Should Know About HIV& AIDS Statistics from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS indicate that over 3000 young people are infected with HIV every day and only one in three have full knowledge of how it is transmitted. In Jamaica, more than 24,000 persons are HIV-infected and 15,000 do not know. HIV and AIDS is also the leading cause of death for persons between 15-45 years old and 0-5 years old. To make sure you get the right information, here are some basic tips and facts about HIV:
What is HIV and AIDS? • Human Immunodeficiency Virus, otherwise known as HIV, is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. Having HIV is not the same as having AIDS. • AIDS is a disease in which the body’s natural immune system breaks down, leaving it unable to fight off infections. Most people infected with HIV look and seem healthy and many do not realize they have been infected.
How is HIV spread? • Having unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. • Through transfusion of blood produced from an infected source. • Through mother-to-child transmission where an infected mother can pass the virus to her child during pregnancy, at birth or through breast feeding.
Those at risk of getting HIV and AIDS include: • Persons who have sex without a condom. • Persons with many sex partners. • Persons who have had repeated Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). • Male and female sex workers. • Men who have sex with men. • Persons who have sex with someone who is HIV positive. • Past or present users of needles which are used to inject illicit drugs e.g. heroin.
How is HIV NOT spread? • Through casual or everyday contact between people. • By coughing, sneezing, or by touching or hugging someone who has the virus. • In the air, in water or in food or through clothing or toilet seats. • Through biting insects such as mosquitoes. 5) HIV can be prevented by: • Abstaining or delaying sex • Being faithful to one uninfected partner • Using a latex condom every time you have sex (vaginal, anal, oral) with a partner. • Not using drugs or sharing injection needles. • Seeking early and complete treatment of STIs. • Getting the facts on STIs and AIDS You can become infected with HIV only if you have contact with the following body fluids of an infected person: blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. For more information about HIV & AIDS visit www.jamaicaredcross.org or email youth@jamaicaredcross.org to request trainings or interventions in your community. You can also visit our Facebook page
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Calendar
Calendar of Events
advertisement
July – August 2011 July 9th - CVSS Summer Games July 11th - S.A.S.S.Y Team Seaview Gardens HIV Sensitization Sessions July 12th - S.A.S.S.Y Team Gordon Pen HIV Sensitization Sessions July 19th - Kingston Branch Youth Cadet Meeting (5:30 pm) July 20th - St. Catherine Branch Meeting July 22nd - Kingston Branch Annual General Meeting August 11th-13th - Youth Leaders Violence Prevention Camp August 14th - Peach Beach Clean up
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Jamaica Red Cross Jamaica Red Cross Headquarters 76 Arnold Road Kingston 5 Tele: (876)984-7860-2 Fax: (876) 984-8272 Email: info@jamaicaredcross.org
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