In support of the set-up of the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation's new secretariat UTS/Caribserve has donated internet services to facilitate the Foundation's ongoing programs of HIV prevention, as well as advocacy, early treatment and care for those affected by HIV. The internet connection and the web, while playing a key role in disseminating updated HIV messages to the public, is also crucial in the Foundation's ongoing collaboration with the French side and with regional/international HIV/AIDS organizations. "When we heard of the foundation's need for connectivity there was no hesitation on our part to assist," stated UTS Marketing and Communication Officer Ivy Lambert. The foundation plays a vital role in creating awareness and providing information to the public and we are proud to be able to assist them in reaching their goals," Lambert continued.
The Foundation will shortly open its doors to the public with its new office located in Cole Bay. The new locale was recently connected to the 4G wireless internet service, generously provided by UTS/Caribserve. This is the second time UTS/Caribserve has come to sponsor the Foundation, as it already supports the island-wide confidential patient monitoring database that allows greater collaboration between Dutch and French HIV specialists in caring for people living with HIV/AIDS and in collating anonymous surveillance data for the island as a whole, which in turn helps plan for improvements in care and treatment options.
The Foundation will seek to leverage the internet and social media as much as possible to engage the public and to make information about HIV/AIDS and STIs more readily accessible. With the help of Eloquent Web Designs, the Foundation is in the process of re-launching its website (www.sxmaidsfoundation.org), which has long been the first port-of-call for information on HIV/AIDS on St. Maarten and increasingly in the Caribbean region. "Ask Annie", which is the anonymous Q&A forum on the website, will feature more prominently in the re-launch scheduled for later this year, to encourage the public to ask questions about HIV/AIDS, STIs and sex in a safe, anonymous and non-judgemental environment.
More information about the launch of the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation Secretariat and the opening of the office will be made available in the coming weeks. For the latest development, follow and "Like" the St. Maarten AIDS Foundations page on Facebook (facebook.com/sxmaidsfoundation).
