March 20, 2009 – VICARE and Clinical Laboratory Inc. is joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in celebrating National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. VICARE will hold a mini-conference “Caribbean Women Taking Action on HIV” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 21, at the St. Croix Educational Complex. Young women ages 13-19 in the community will be able to attend workshops that focus on information about HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, self-esteem, empowering young women, mental health, women's health issues, domestic violence, women and cancer and “In Spite of It All: A Personal Journey of Living with HIV/AIDS.
Awareness Day is a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Families, health organizations, businesses, communities, the government and individuals come together to provide support, encourage discussion and educate women and girls about practicing safe methods and the importance of getting tested. With National Women's Health Week VICARE wants to remind women that they too need to visit the doctor, make sure their screenings are up-to-date and just take a minute to think about their health.
VICARE was created in 1994 to educate the people of the V.I. about the prevention of HIV infection and to support and care for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Currently, it provides vital HIV prevention programs to youth, substance users, women, and the incarcerated populations, and also conducts free HIV testing and counseling for the St. Croix community. The organization also provides a support group, housing and emergency assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS.
VICARE is currently located at No. 43 Queen Street, Christiansted, across the street from St. Mary’s Catholic School. To register for the mini-conference, contact them at 692-9111.