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News
July 2008
ASGS members to attend XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico
The AIDS Support Group Saba Foundation is to send representatives to the XVII IAC to be held in Mexico City between August 2nd - August 8th 2008. The Saba team consists of:
President, Suzanna van den Elshout
Treasurer, Rudolph Hassell
Consultant, Dr. Dheeraj Bansal
Advisor, Carl Buncamper
GEBE Supports Talk Red Campaign
The AIDS Support Group Saba Foundation extends its congratulations to GEBE for participating in a most effective program combating the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS > ASGS is pleased to assist the GEBE group in their outreach and awareness activities entitled: GEBE Talks RED during the month of July 2008.
The ASGS in cooperation with Shaun Johnson, the Talk Red Campaign Saba coordinator, created a quiz program presented on Good Day Saba every Saturday by DJ Dave Levenstone. Questions concerning HIV/AIDS are asked during the program and prizes (generously donated by many of Saba's businesses) are awarded for correct answers.
We would like to extend our appreciation to:
My Store
D&A Supermarket
J.R.'s
The Big Rock Market
February 2008
Carl Buncamper elected to CCNAPC
ASGS' very own Carl Buncamper was elected as an alternate to the Caribbean Coalition of National AIDS Programme Coordinators (CCNAPC) board for the Dutch sub-region in the October elections. The position became active in January 2008. CCNAPC ia a regional, peer based organisation committed to improving the quality of National AIDS Responses and to supporting member Caribbean nations in reducing the spread and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS in the region. The membership is drawn from 34 countries and territories, which are grouped in the following seven regional sub-groupings:
Dutch Speaking
January 2008
Hotline Launched
The Hotline was launched on January 17th 2008
The hot line numbers are there for you to call when you really want to know the facts. The medical student volunteers are trained and knowledgable to help you answer questions, help you make decisions by giving you accurate information, and to help you find any appropriate reference numbers that you may need.in situations such as abuse, or feelings of suicide. They will try to help you with any of your concerns, please don’t feel alone, try using this hotline.
And, your questions will be private. No one will know unless you choose to tell them.
Your call is kept confidential!
December 2007
ASGS Donates funding, T-shirts and information & prevention material to the Ennia Hell's Gate Triathalon.
To find out more about the event visit their website
The ASGS is pleased to have had Dr. Djeerah Bansal representing our foundation at the 25th Annual Conference of the GAY and Lesbian Medical Association.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants where able to: identify resources and avenues for healthcare access for the LGBT population; utilize screening tools for at-risk LGBT populations; understand recent advances in healthcare delivery specific to the LGBT patient population; and develop strategies for advocacy for LGBT healthcare at a local level.
Dr. Bansal is a professor at the Saba Medical University and works with the ASGS as not only a consultant but also as a facilitator of several of our activities such as the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. program. (See more on this under activities) and is developing the Foundations’ updated strategic plan. The GLMA format this year covers many of the areas that we want to include in our planning and we are fortunate that Dr. Bansal will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.
To learn more about the GLMA conference go to:
www.glma.com
October 2007
Carl for President!
Carl Buncamper, the President of ASGS has been named the National AIDS Coordinator for the Island Territory of Saba and will represent us on the board of the Caribbean Coalition of National AIDS Programme Coordinators (CCNAPC).
In his capacity of NAC he will be attending the CCNAPC conference Saint Thomas in October and the CRN+ conference in Antigua also in October.
We are pleased to have him representing our community.
August 2007
Website Launch!
After months of development the ASGS Foundation is proud to announce the launch of it's website. The site is a resource portal for the people of Saba and as well as having great content, it also has many links to sites all over the world!
HIV/AIDS Outreach Mural
The AIDS Support Group Saba Foundation (ASGS) is very pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Saba’s own professional Artist, Stacey Simmons on an art project this last spring.
Earlier this year ASGS asked Stacey, who is presently teaching art classes at the Saba Comprehensive School, if she would consider creating an art project that would involve her students in our continual efforts to create awareness through knowledge of HIV prevention and the life long continued support needed by those people living with this disease within our community.
Stacey accepted this challenge and worked with her students, teaching them about HIV through her own research, and helping them create a “Movable Mural” depicting their own understanding and feelings. The focus of this art project was “Reaching Out”
Each student in Stacey’s class was given an individual plaque on which they created a scene. These plaques were then hung together to form a portable mural.
Stacey proposed to us that the ASGS seek permission to hang this mural for a month at a time in public buildings on the Island. We felt this to be an excellent idea and certainly in keeping with the “Reaching Out” motto of Stacey’s and the AIDS Support Group Saba Foundation efforts!
The mural can be viewed at:
