Private sector workers can now look forward to continued HIV/AIDS education efforts through a community donations initiative by FirstCaribbean International Bank.The bank’s managing director for Barbados, Daniel Farmer, presented the executive director of the AIDS Foundation of Barbados, Akiba Reid, with the third tranche of their commitment to the cause in a presentation recently at the bank’s Rendezvous office.The donation is a result of the bank’s interest in supporting valuable non-profit organisations and is part of its commitment to the foundation, whose mandate is to provide HIV/AIDS education to private sector workers in Barbados in the hope of promoting safe and preventative practices. With 30 member companies and over 10 000 workers already educated islandwide, Reid noted that success was evident but that continued support from corporate entities such as FirstCaribbean was always needed.She expressed the foundation’s gratitude to the bank, adding that its contributions had gone a long way to assist the Foundation in facing the challenges of educating the people of Barbados on safe, responsible sexual practices.The foundation has been carrying out its mandate primarily through a three-pronged “ABC” approach, promoting Abstinence, Being faithful and Condom use constantly to achieve the behavioural change necessary to prevent the spread of the disease. Expressing his personal support for the foundation’s mandates, Farmer said: “We definitely think this is something important and we wish to continue with our support. The threat of HIV/Aids is something we all have to face in one way or the other. We really believe in the message that the AIDS Foundation is promoting.” In addition to the support for the ABC campaign, Farmer suggested a focus on substance abuse might also be necessary as it often translated into unsafe sexual practices while under the influence of mind-altering drugs. (ES)
