The National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) has hailed the Ministry of Health’s HIV/AIDS Art Competition’s effectiveness in engaging youths about the disease.
At the prize giving ceremony hosted for winners at Hotel Tower recently,
Programme Manager Dr Shanti Singh said in order to reduce the spread of HIV, focus must be placed on shaping adolescent behaviour. Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said, “Art is not just a demonstration of talent that people have, art also is a documentation of the values our society promotes, and therefore these are activities that we must see as important in our lives.” He said the competition fostered partnerships among children, parents and teachers. Ramsammy said the teachers’ role has become even more important in instilling values in youths that will inform their character and ability to become productive citizens.
NAPS Community Mobilisation Coordinator Nazim Hussain said the objective of the competition was to raise awareness about the fight against HIV/AIDS and related concerns such as stigma and discrimination. It also aimed at empowering youth to make a difference in the battle against the disease in their schools, communities and nationally.
According to GINA Ramsammy handed over a computer system to the art teacher at the Annai Secondary School which boasted four winners in the secondary category of the competition. The Anna Regina Multilateral and North Georgetown Secondary schools rounded out the top three places in this category. The students submitted pieces under the theme ‘Don’t let HIV ruin your life.’ Mae’s Under 12 Primary won four of the top six places and Clonbrook Primary won two places. The primary students submitted works under the theme ‘Our Children, A Future without HIV’.
The winners were given cash prizes and a number of books whereas the top three schools were given computer systems to develop computer literacy programmes. GINA said 42 schools participated with 235 entries from seven regions.
Meanwhile, the videos for the HIV jingle competition held in 2006 were also launched at the ceremony. More than 80 audio entries were submitted and the top ten pieces were developed for television. They are currently being aired. Also, the paintings from the 2006 and 2007 competitions will soon be exhibited at schools nationwide.
