HOPE Launches “Do It For Love” Campaign To Reduce HIV Cases

Helping Others In a Positive Environment launched its “Do It For Love” campaign on February 1. The goals of this campaign are to reduce the number of individuals becoming infected with HIV as well as increasing the number of individuals who know their HIV status and risk factors.

In an effort to combat HIV/AIDS, HOPE is partnering with other community, government and private agencies in an effort to educate the community about HIV/AIDS by hosting educational booths, HIV prevention interventions as well as community health fairs in the St. Thomas/St. John district.

In recent years, the U.S. Virgin Islands HIV/AIDS capita has increased to include approximately one percent of the total USVI population. Additionally, the USVI continues to top the U.S. per capita ranking with the most HIV/AIDS cases per capita in the U.S.

HOPE will host the following activities on St. John:

– There will be an HIV information booth at the Cruz Bay post office Wednesday, February 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. HOPE Inc. will partner with the American Red Cross of the Virgin Islands to distribute free HIV information and safer sex kits.

– HOPE Inc., in conjunction with members of the Coral Bay community, will host a health fair at Guy Benjamin School on Saturday, February 9, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free HIV, blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol screenings will be offered along with free dental and eye exams and medical consultations. Information on chronic diseases and HIV will be distributed along with safer sex kits.

– There will be a Sisters Informing Sisters on Topics About AIDS (SISTA) intervention at the Julius E. Sprauve School on Thursday, February 14, hosted by HOPE Inc. The event will focus on preventing HIV infection among African-American women.

For more information, contact HOPE at 777-1611.