Samar youth group to join International AIDS candle-lighting memorial on May 18

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
May 10, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  Kartada Samar (KS), a youth group composed of Sangguniang Kabataan officials enjoined other stakeholders to join the International AIDS candle-lighting memorial on May 18.

In a meeting attended by the so called stakeholders, KS informed the group that the date is the 25th anniversary of the International AIDS Candle light memorial.

KS said that this year’s theme is “International AIDS Candlelight Memorial: Never give up, never forget!”

KS is a group of young people advocating Adolescent Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention through massive information dissemination.

Like the government health department, KS is also concerned that the young remains unprotected and misguided about HIV/AIDS.

Last year before the barangay elections, the previous breed of SK officials then hosted a 15-minute radio program aired at DYMS in Catbalogan for the second district and Radyo Natin FM in Calbayog City for the first district for the same purpose.

The program was also aimed at advocacy for responsible sexual behavior and reducing risk behavior as regards sexuality.

The group gathered at Maqueda Bay Hotel was unanimous in saying that HIV/AIDS is growing silently through the years.

Health authorities though could not give any data as to how extensive is HIV/AIDS affliction in the province. Neither could KS.