"Whenever it comes to the month of December there is a lot of talk about HIVAIDs but after then it seems as though everyone have forgotten that the world is critically faced with a dilemma that if not addressed properly can and will wipe us all out. So I would like to see more emphases being placed on each month," he said.
Hebert said that addressing the disease means that we must "Keep the promise, stop AIDS," as there are too much stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease which needs to be addressed properly. Teachers, parents and community leaders need to increase their efforts in educating the children about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
Herbert in a passionate plea said that he urge children in particular to join in the fight against the AIDS epidemic. He said that he is somewhat pleased by the enormous efforts of the Ministry of Health in disseminating information on the disease throughout the federation but warned that more has to be done so as to ensure success. He noted that while there are evidence to suggest that there are people who are enthusiastic in the fight against the virus there are still those who for varying reasons are not committed.
Pastor Herbert said that including young people in the fight against AIDS was essential, and stressed that winning the fight was impossible if youth were not actively involved.
In stressing the need for people, especially children, to abstain from sex, he advised children to channel all of their energies into their schoolwork.
Herbert pointed out that if they begin to have sex at a young age, it would only lead to such things as pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases that could complicate their childhood. "Promise yourselves that you will put your education first," Herbert said.
The PDHF President and Founder lashed out at what he called deceptive approached=s by churches noting that many of them are to be blamed for the state of stigma and discrimination. "too many times when our gathering approaches us about issues and that affects them such as HIV AIDS we are more interested in how and who they contracted it from rather than what we as a member of the congregation can do to help. Secondly we have failed our members in terms of confidentiality as there is always someone else that we need to tell and as such this has caused the public and more in particular those infected and or affected by the disease to have lost faith in us so we are all responsible," he declared.
In addressing the issue of stigma and discrimination Herbert noted that one of the biggest problems concerning the AIDS epidemic was stigma. He noted that AIDS affects every ethnicity, age group, religious background and nationality, and as such there should be no segregation and no discrimination against persons living with AIDS. "let us still see them as our brothers and sisters as today it may e them and tomorrow even if it is not us it may be our sons or daughters so we need to put an end to this nonsense and I urge all churches and their leaders to wake up and face the reality".
Herbert suggested that one avenue of effectively addressing the disease may not be from the churches taking into consideration the lost faith and trust owing to the enormous stigma and confidentiality failure that the churches have created. He said that the education system I St Kits and Nevis was striving to be all-inclusive. By this, he opined, it was meant that no one, regardless of race, financial background, disability or sickness, should be left behind within the school system.
Herbert in reiterating his earlier plea encouraged the federation's children to live healthier lifestyles, and said this was not exclusive to abstinence. The NGO Founder and President said things like good diet and regular exercise were also very important.
Herbert added that one of the easiest ways out of poverty was through education. "Now is the time in your life when you need to be serious; stay in school, and be serious about your schoolwork," he said.