U.S. Ambassador's Fund for HIV Prevention Poster Competiton (June 25, 2008)
2008 Speeches
U.S. Ambassador's Fund for HIV Prevention Poster Competiton (June 25, 2008)
U.S. Embassy
Belmopan
I want to welcome you to the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan.
We know many of you traveled long distances to be here and we are excited to have you here to join us today in recognizing the hard work and creativity these seven students have demonstrated in the wonderful poster artwork seen here. We are hosting this gathering to celebrate the creativity of the students whose unique artwork will advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention, help to reduce stigma and discrimination towards persons living with HIV/AIDS, and raise young Belizeans’ awareness about the disease.
This is the second year that the US Embassy has sponsored a National Primary School HIV/AIDS Poster Competition. It is an important program - and we at the US Embassy are especially appreciative for your participation and enthusiasm. The topic of HIV/AIDS is one that should be of high importance to all of us here in Belize.
The UNAIDS 2007 report and the UNGASS country report for Belize (dated January 31, 2008) estimate that the HIV infection rate in Belize at the end of 2007 was 2.1%. That means that, as an average, over one in every fifty people in Belize has the HIV virus. Think about that for a moment: one in fifty - and that takes into account the entire population. If one considers the sexually active population only, the ratio is even higher. That is an alarming statistic. So, it is tremendously important that we all take part in prevention efforts to keep this number from growing and, by doing so, help keep Belize a healthy and prosperous country. Talking openly about HIV/AIDS in the United States or in Belize is a sensitive issue. But as responsible parents and educators, we owe young people proper information to help them make healthy, responsible and informed decisions.
We at the US Embassy believe that the best way to prevent the spread of HIV is through education and increased awareness. Therefore, we sponsored the National Primary School Poster Competition to help in the effort to increase knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS and its effects. As part of the competition, students in standards IV, V and VI in all primary schools across the country created these wonderful posters to help us increase awareness of HIV/AIDS in Belize and communicate to their peer groups the messages of prevention and tolerance. Awards were made to the students who made the top three posters in each of the districts – 21 students in all. You seven students are here today because your posters were awarded first place in your district - they were judged the most effective in communicating the messages of prevention and understanding to your peer group. In addition to receiving today’s awards for their efforts, students can take pride in knowing that they are helping in the battle against the spread of HIV. Your educational posters are a vital part in the effort to inform other young people of the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and, through knowledge, empower them to better protect themselves against infection.
The messages of these posters will reach primary school students throughout the country. Textbook covers will be created from the posters and will be made available free of charge to all upper division primary students in Belize at the start of the upcoming school year. Selected posters will also be used to create a calendar that will be distributed nationwide on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2008.
The hard work and artistic creativity demonstrated in these posters is inspirational. Your creativeness is motivation to me and others here at the Embassy to work hard and to be as imaginative as you all in our attempts to assist Belize in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
The US Embassy sees HIV/AIDS as a top health and social concern and we have dedicated much time, money and effort to this cause. However, the key to the future success of all these efforts is you. Educating and empowering yourselves to make the right decisions and to help others make the right decisions is what, ultimately, will stop the spread of HIV.
I want to thank our sponsors the Levi Strauss & Company Foundation and the United States Center for Disease Control. To the students, we are honored by your dedication to a critical mission – and I am pleased to recognize your achievements and delighted to present you with these awards today.
I also want to thank your teachers, principals, and the Ministry of Education for assisting and enabling this competition to take place in your schools.
And to all the students who took part in the competition nationwide, thank you and congratulations on a job well done!