Planned Parenthood donates to persons living with HIV
Persons living with HIV should have a healthy and balanced diet.
It is for this reason that the Planned Parenthood Association donated parcels of healthy food and toiletries to 25 HIV positive persons, during this Christmas season.{{more}}
When SEARCHLIGHT spoke with the director of Planned Parenthood, Verlene Saunders, she indicated that this initiative is taken on by the association every year, to help persons who are really in need.
She also stated that the food being donated was bought under the directives of a nutritionist.
âPeople who are HIV positiveâ¦have to eat in order to take their ARVs (Anti-retroviral treatment), so when we buy the food, we donât just go out and buy. We use a shopping list that is given to us by a member of staff from the nutrition department,â Saunders explained.
Although the number of persons testing positive dropped this year, the director is encouraging persons to be vigilant and get tested so that they do not find themselves in a situation where they will need help.
âWe may not always be able to do this either. We can help now, but we can also help better if you get tested, know your status, and protect yourself, so you donât fall into the category of those who need help,â Saunders said.
âAt this point in time, with all the partying and everything else, the Nine Mornings and all of thatâ¦itâs supposed to be clean fun, but there will always be those persons who will get caught up and would do things that they may regret after; so weâre just trying to encourage the public; if you havenât had your status checked, itâs important to know your status, especially if your partner has been tested and you havenât been tested. If you have been tested and your partner hasnât been tested, then you should encourage your partner to come and if your partner has gone and you havenât come, then you should come and get tested as wellâ.
Saunders noted that HIV testing is currently fairly free and that persons should take advantage of that opportunity.
âItâs important to know what your status is because persons get into relationships and after a little while, they donât think that itâs necessary to use protection and they end up HIV positive or with a STI and you have regrets, so, we really just want to encourage people to continue to be tested,â the director said. âOver the year, we have only seen two positivesâ¦but two young people too many; thatâs just too manyâ.
Of the 25 persons receiving parcels, 23 are adults while two are children.
Behaviourial Change Communication educator for Population Services International (PSI) Odinger Warner received the parcels of food and toiletries on behalf of the 25 persons.
Comments
