University and Organizations Hold World AIDS Day Health Forum
Photo by Nikki Jabel
A health forum on HIV/AIDS was held last December 1, 2016 in accordance with World AIDS Day, with the theme “Getting to Zero”, at the Nursing Arts laboratory of the university’s Robert Hoeppner building.
Event organizers included the USC Medics, Junior Carolinian Nurses, and the Nursing Student Body Organization, in partnership with the USC – CRCY Council, Junior Philippine Pharmacists Association – Pi Chapter, USC College of Nursing, Bisdak Pride, and Project Red Ribbon.
The forum started with opening remarks from Br. Noel Tecson, SVD, RN, MSN. Next was a discussion that aimed to dispel ignorance about HIV and AIDS through information and learning, with Mr. Kenneth Abarquez, RN, EMT, as the speaker. Participating students were then divided into groups for a short activity.
The second speaker was Br. Paul Bongcaras, SVD, who has worked with AIDS patients, and the life stories of people who tested positive for HIV were shared. This was followed by an open forum wherein a few details on how to further help HIV-positive people were discussed. How to counter the stigma of being HIV-positive was also discussed.
The last part of the forum was a voluntary screening and pre-counseling for HIV, available to the event’s participants.
