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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Red Rose Ball Committee
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Freeport, Grand Bahama - On November 9th, 2015 at 10:00 am all roads lead some 500 Student from
all schools across Grand Bahama to the Bishop Michael Eldon's Auditorium
to participate in a HIV/AIDS workshop with presenter Hydeia Broadbent,
International HIV/AIDS Activist from Las Vegas, Nevada.
As students gathered school by school they were curious to see Hydeia,
you could tell the eagerness from some of the whisper among the teens as
to what questions they wanted to ask.
The day began with the Auditorium full to capacity with Jethro Dixon,
Toastmaster as the Master of Ceremony, who hyped the students with
positive, inspirational quotes of the day to set the mood, afterwards
the prayer and National anthem were done . welcome greetings was done by
Ms. Darlene Cargil-Rolle, Lecturer, College of the Bahamas.
Our MC Jethro Dixon got the Students hyped by asking them to chant their
school names to the tip top of their voices, they all participated ,
and ALL Schools were recognized.
Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy
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Mrs. Paula Marshall representative from the Department of Social
Services brought brief remarks in the absence of the Honorable Melanie
Griffin, Minister of Social Services and Community Development, she
admonished the students to grasp as much information as they can from
this workshop as it was designed to impart knowledge to all who will
take it in.
Ms. Odette Knowles, Chairman of the Red Rose Ball Committee and
Organizer of Teen (PEP) Peer Educating Peer Program gave an an overview
of the program advising the teens that she did not want to leave them
out of the opportunity to hear from this dynamic, inspiring Advocate
speaking of her life with HIV/AIDS, and sometimes the stigma attached.
Chairman Knowles told students this is an opportunity of a life time and
feel free to ask any question so that you will get first hand
information from someone who is living with this disease everyday. She
explained that this program was designed to bridge the communication gap
between teens and parents to have an open dialog about the effects and
affects of this deadly disease, to make wise choices as it relates to
sexual behaviors and to follow the theme "Stop HIV/AIDS, Keep the
Promise and know that HIV/AIDS is Everybody's Business.
Bishop Michel Eldon School
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It was time for the icing on the Cake to be spread by the Special Guest
Speaker, Ms. Hydeia Broadbent. Opening her presentation she noted that
Living with HIV/ AIDS is NO Death Sentence. despite being born with
AIDS , the 31 year old activist continues to live life to the fullest
while Informing others about the disease.
Hydeia didn't choose her career path, it choose her, she was dealt this
hand at birth. Abandoned by her drug-addicted biological mother,
Broadbent was born HIV positive, and has turned what might have
considered a tragic tale into a triumphant one, as she continues to
dedicate her life to helping keep others from getting infected.
Red Rose Ball Committee
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She told the students since the age of six she has been speaking on many
TV shows and traveling to various Universities spreading the message
about the dangers of unsafe sex. She admonished the students to talk
openly about HIV, to know their status, get tested and be mindful of
peer pressure to try things they are not knowledgable about. It's as
simple as ABC. She said, if you do not study for an exam you will fail,
if you just go about being reckless with your life you can contract
AIDS, knowledge is POWER, be educated about this disease so you will
know how to protect yourselves, she said.
Broadbent said it is critical for young people to understand that HIV
WILL change your life drastically, she mentioned that she had a pretty
normal life, but the many Doctor visits and medications that helps to
keep her healthy is VERY expensive in the United States, she said that
each pill she takes cost $750, she noted that people in the Bahamas are
very LUCKY they do not have to pay for medication due the generosity of
the Bill Clinton Foundation, she said but you must bear in mind that a
lot of you here today plan to go off to the United States to College and
if you don't have insurance having this disease could be a financial
strain. So again she stressed make wise choices and talk about HIV/AIDS.
She also noted that people sometimes think because she was born with
HIV her story does not apply to them, she added, that she's had AIDS all
her life, who better to tell you about this disease than someone who
has never lived a day with out it? She said her message to young people
is having HIV affects your mind, body and soul. It's not a death
sentence but it will make your life complicated, not to mention the
stigma, and secrecy some people have to endure because you cannot tell
anyone.. Let's talk about it!
It was time for the questions from the students, it's amazing how
involved the students were asking questions, she told them to to feel
free to ASK ANYTHING and they sure took advantage of that. One question
was, can you still have children while infected? Her answer was, Yes,
she can have children, with some careful planning, it usually is
possible to have a safe and successful pregnancy while preventing HIV
from passing to the HIV-negative partner (or to the baby) the method of
insemination timed by the woman's ovulation, using this method you will
not infect your partner and today there are medications that the mother
must take preventing the infection from mother to child for a healthy
child. Another question asked. Is there anything that you cannot do
due to being HIV positive ? Her answer was, there is absolutely NOTHING
she can not do as long as she takes good care of herself, take her
medication on time and go to her doctor visits as prescribed she can
live a normal life. The children of Grand Bahama were very good with
their questions to get more information about HIV/AIDS..
After the workshop was over all schools had an opportunity to capture a
photo moment with Broadbent, many of them wanted personal selfies with
her which she allowed them to capture. The event was well organized with
the assistance of students from College of the Bahamas and co sponsors,
Bishop Michael Eldon School, Department of Social Services, Polymers
International Limited, Grand Bahama Health Services, Statoil South
Riding Point and GB Ministry of Tourism.
Broadbent says she will be delighted to return to Grand Bahama to continue to share her story.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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