Local World AIDS Day march pulls record participants
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Caribbean Regional Director of the Aids Health Foundation, Dr Kevin Harvey is reporting that the march held yesterday from Cross Roads to downtown Kingston in observance of World AIDS Day 2016 (WAD2016) was the largest ever health related march in Jamaica.
“The march attracted more than 3,000 people and about 500 peiple benefited from free HIV testing during the health fair,” Harvey said.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) supported the march, the health fair and free concert as part of the activities to observe WAD2016. This was done in partnership with the National Family Planning Board and ASHE to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS and improve testing, treatment and care among the population.
The event formed part of AHF’s commitment to expand its outreach in Jamaica particularly through the establishment of a “Wellness Centre” to provide free diagnosis and treatment for STIs including HIV.
AHF is the largest non-governmental service organisation globally providing care and support to persons living with and affected by HIV. The Foundation currently provides compassionate care to over 600,000 persons living with HIV across 37 countries and 15 states within the USA.