A peer education and AIDS awareness workshop at the Cummings Lodge Secondary School last Saturday and Sunday drew fifty participants from the Ogle, Industry, and Cummings Lodge communities as well as the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education.

The programme was conducted by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Hands International, Guyana, and among those making presentations were Dr Michael Ali of the GUM clinic, First Lady Varshnie Jagdeo and the Coordinator Jaigobind Mahabir.

According to a release from the NGO, at the end of the workshop a committee was elected to continue the work in these communities. Heading this committee is Hazeena Gani, with Beverly Dummitt as vice president and Sarah Singh, secretary.

Hands International, Guyana is involved in peer education and AIDS awareness campaigns and its work is funded by CIDA through Black Cap Inc. in Canada, the release said.

And on Sunday, the NGO will be conducting another peer-education seminar at the Gordon Table Primary School, Mahaicony Creek. The team of facilitators will be led by coordinator Mahabir, and will include members of the East Coast affiliate Latchmie Devi Heeralall, Anuradah Oudit, and Chrisaundria Mahabir.

The curriculum, the release stated, will cover such topics as dealing with HIV/AIDS, the immune system, modes of transmission, prevention, stigma and discrimination, the significance of the red ribbon, pre-and-post-test counselling and results-based management.

The team is also expected to hold discussions with community leaders to put in place a sustainable programme to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the release added.