| Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) and Toolsie Persaud Limited have forged ties which have so far allowed residents of Wakenaam, Essequibo Island, to be exposed to crucial information on the impact of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).In fact, the partnership, according to YCG HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Dmitri Nicholson, will serve to bring to residents of the community necessary treatment and assistance to ensure that they could cope should they become plagued with the health afflictions.He recounted that the decision to venture into the Essequibo community was first crystallised by Mr Toolsie Persaud, who was intrigued by an outreach programme YCG had undertaken in Parika earlier this year.So intrigued was Mr Persaud, Nicholson said, that he offered to facilitate the team’s travel to Wakenaam to raise awareness of the health issues among the residents. Mr Persaud’s assistance even extended to transportation, accommodation and the provision of meals for the 10 volunteers who conducted the outreach, Nicholson added.And, according to him, the residents were very receptive to the information they received, even praising the efforts of the non-governmental organisation for taking the time to enlighten them on the very important issues.The venture, Nicholson disclosed, was undertaken in the form of a door-to-door intervention, where YCG volunteers were able to share information on an individual basis. The residents, he noted, demonstrated much eagerness to learn throughout the entire programme, which was conducted during the past week-end.And since this was YCG’s first venture into that area, Nicholson said, the focus was mainly on sensitising the residents. He added that a special forum was also held at the Wakenaam Community Centre, where youths of the community were the primary targets. They were exposed to the facts about the various infections, including how these can be contracted and prevented, Nicholson said. The use of the female condom was also among the topics covered.Additionally, it was highlighted that there are some infections that can still be contracted even with the use of condoms, thus the practice of abstinence was emphasised during the youth session.However, Nicholson informed, the sensitisation aspect is only the first step in addressing the problem in the area. He noted that plans are already apace to introduce counselling and testing to the residents with a view to determining if there are persons who require treatment and other assistance.And so, with the continued support of Mr Persaud, Nicholson anticipates that the work in Wakenaam will become a long-term initiative. He added that there were discussions to venture into other areas in the Essequibo area.The recent introduction of the sensitisation, Nicholson said, comes as part of the STI-specific intervention that YCG has unleashed in a number of communities, noting that the Wakenaam initiative marks the fourth such intervention engaged within the past year.Similar programmes, he said, were undertaken extensively just last month in more than 10 Region Nine communities, including Achiwid, Crowdar, Merudi, Surama, Nappi, Parishana, and Hiowa, where voluntary counselling and testing were carried out.According to Nicholson, confidential and reliable YCG counsellors tested and counselled more than 600 individuals for HIV. This information, he said, has been passed on to the Ministry of Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat, which facilitates the provision of treatment and assistance to those who tested positive for HIV.He said that, as part of an ongoing support programme, those infected are provided with nutritional supplements which serve to strengthen their immune systems even as they are encouraged to inculcate healthy lifestyles with a view of lengthening their lifespans, though infected.And this support,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, Nicholson said, remains strictly confidential, unless it is believed that an individual may be at risk. In such an instance, he explained, a patient will have to be sick and require treatment for AIDS, thus causing the need for a family member or some care giver to be alerted, to aid better care.But while there are instances that it becomes necessary to disclosure the status of some individuals, Nicholson assured that confidentiality remains one of the main objectives of the programme.Legislation in place for juvenile detention centreMinister of Human Services Priya Manickchand said the government has passed legislation to have juveniles housed separately from the general prison population.The Minister said this should pave the way for the construction of a detention centre to accommodate young offenders.She emphasised that juveniles should never be kept along with seasoned criminals or amongst the adult prison population.However, Manickchand stated that given Guyana’s limited resources it was not economical to have such a facility to keep juveniles.“They are supposed to be held separately but given our limitations and constraints, as is the case with every developing nation, we could not afford it,” Manickchand said.There has been growing concern about the bundling together of young offenders with adult detainees in the available holding facilities.Although the legislation is in place, there is no clear indication on when the construction of a juvenile centre will begin.Most young inmates are kept at the Ruimveldt Police Station, placing additional burden on police ranks to keep watch over them.Police sources, who visited the detention area, had admitted that the inmates were being housed in what they described as awful, appalling and horrifying conditions.They disclosed that one juvenile was even infected with HIV and had not been isolated. There were others with oozing sores, skin rashes and other communicable infections.In March, police ranks stationed at Ruimveldt foiled a breakout from the location when 13 juveniles set fire to the lockup area.The juvenile prisoners waited close to midnight and using a cigarette lighter set fire to the western wall with the intention of weakening the structure.However, police officials observed the flames and three fire tenders which were summoned to the scene quickly put out the blaze.Police had detained a minibus driver who allegedly slipped the cigarette lighter to the prisoners during a visit to the station.The juvenile prisoners, among them two facing murder charges, had been temporarily transferred to the Golden Grove Police Station.Juveniles have escaped at least five times from the same lockups in the past two years even attacking two sergeants and a female corporal with bottles. |
