The message delivered to students Monday about HIV/AIDS was at times graphic, sad, frank and funny. The V.I. Department of Health presented an educational forum for the territory’s observation of National Women and Girls HIV Day.
Around 200 male and female students grades nine through 12 attended the forum at the St. Croix Education Complex auditorium.
When 29-year-old Hydeia Broadbent shared her life story about being infected with HIV at birth, and being abandoned, the students sat back and listened intently. The students’ tears started to flow when she showed a video of her at six sobbing her heart out on Nicklelodeon trying to tell Magic Johnson her story.
Ever since that time, she has been an activist spreading the message of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, promoting abstinence, protected sex and getting tested.
“With all we know today contracting AIDS is a choice. It’s 100 percent preventable,” Broadbent said. “I encourage you all to stay negative.”
Education Complex senior Reneisha Hyligar said she was almost in tears listening to Broadbent. She said seeing what can happen to a baby if you are infected is something about which all young ladies should think.
Dr. Tai Camille Hunte, a young native Virgin Islander, gave a graphic presentation on sexually transmitted diseases. Hunte is the territorial infectious diseases physician and the medical director for the STD/HIV/TB Clinic at the DOH.
During her presentation, some of the students shrank down into their seats; some were snickering behind their hands. At one time during her presentation, Hunte told the boys to look at her and the presentation and not to hide behind books and papers.
The presentation showed male and female genitalia with horrible looking growths and lesions. She told the students the only way to prevent STDs is abstinence and the second best is protection with condoms.
River Huston, author, performer, lecturer and activist living with AIDS, gave her story and a message on awareness about HIV/AIDS in a lighter manner. The students laughed at her sexual innuendos. She gave her cell phone number for the students to text questions; so they didn’t have to stand up and publicly ask her questions in front of their peers.
“At every junction in life there is a choice,” Huston told the students. “Choose safe sex every single time. Protect yourself.”
Kimberly Frank, a senior who seemed very knowledgeable about the topics, said the presentation was a good way to learn about sexual health issues. “I pay attention and I like to learn,” Frank said. “My mother never really talked about sex. This was inspirational.”
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed annually on March 10 by the Office of Women’s Health to raise awareness about the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls.
The students were encouraged by all the presenters to get tested. The theme of the awareness day was “every 45 minutes a woman is infected with HIV….have you been tested?
Educational materials were distributed on HIV/AIDS and STD prevention and DOH staff was available to answer questions.
Other speakers included Health Commissioner Darice Plaskett and STD/HIV/TB Director Gritell Martinez who urged women to get tested. Sen. Clarence Payne, chairman of the committee on health and hospitals, also spoke. Cheryl Francis spoke on behalf of her husband, Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis.
The conference will be held Wednesday at the Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas.
Governor John deJongh Jr. proclaimed March 10 Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and commended the Department’s STD/HIV/TB Program and the growing list of private and public entities that he said have made it “their quest to insure that the health of women and girls throughout the territory are given the importance for which they unconditionally deserve.”
In addition to Health, the governor commended V.I. CARE, HOPE Inc., St. Thomas East End Medical Center, Frederiksted Health Center and Per Ankh, which works through its NUWOMAN Rising Initiative.
DeJongh said the agencies work to educate the community on preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS as well as provide treatment and care services for those battling HIV/AIDS.
Nationwide statistics show that a woman tests positive every 45 minutes for HIV and that more women have become infected since the disease was first reported in the early 1980s.Today one in four Americans living with HIV are women.
