‘Pumpkin’ kicking out HIV/AIDS for Carnival

Sydney Joseph, popularly called “Pumpkin”, is planning to work relentlessly during Vincy Mas 2010 to sensitize Vincentians about HIV/AIDS.{{more}}

As a peer communicator with the National AIDS Secretariat, Joseph told SEARCHLIGHT that during the Carnival season he will educating others about the proper use of the condom, male and female condoms, safe sex, abstinence, and prevention.

Besides taking his campaign to the Carnival hotspots, Joseph is also planning to team up with a group which will be organizing a Health Leadership Programme called “Kick Out HIV”.

He will also be a part of “The Protector” section which is being staged by popular mas band Nelson Bloc in conjunction with the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS). This section is expected to promote condom use during Vincy Mas.

“My message remains one way all the time, protect yourself,” said Joseph, who contracted the HIV virus in December 2002.

For the past two years, he has been campaigning throughout St.Vincent and the Grenadines, distributing condoms at his work place at the George Mc Intosh Building, Lower Kingstown Park, or at other locales across the country.

He said his aim is to promote prevention because from his standpoint, HIV is not being spread by mosquitoes.

“The spreading of HIV is by those who would have contracted HIV. So my whole aim as an HIV/AIDS Peer Communicator is prevention,” said Joseph on Thursday, June 17, at the George Mc Intosh Building in Paul’s Avenue.

Joseph said he has a passion for sensitizing others about HIV/AIDS because he doesn’t want anyone to contract the HIV virus.

He noted that even though that is his fate, he doesn’t want it to befall anyone else.

“I have a passion. I personally have a passion for what I do. My satisfaction doesn’t really come from just the people. I get my own satisfaction because as someone who has disclosed having the virus, I get my satisfaction from inward because I feel comfortable doing this,” said Joseph.

He said he has gained more respect from both the young and the old since becoming a peer communicator.

Joseph said he has also taken his campaign to two secondary schools and a primary school on the mainland. His venture has also taken him to Bequia, where he has lectured at the secondary schools and clinics there.

Joseph disclosed that he reaches out to his target audiences by utilising STI photos to grab attention before delving into his lectures.

His lectures also includes condom demonstrations and the telling of his personal story.