“Let us do our best to educate the community,” Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos said as he echoed the concerns of health advocates and stakeholders of the Department of Public Health’s HIV/STD treatment and resource center.
John Dax Moreno, the center’s program manager, said they have one new case of HIV this year, bringing the total to 30 patients since 1997.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” he said, as he urged the community to help educate the people about the risks of getting HIV or an STD.
This Christmas season, he said, the best gift is the knowledge that will make people change their lives to avoid these diseases.
Inos yesterday signed the proclamation designating December as World AIDS Awareness Month.
“HIV and AIDS continue to be a health concern here in the CNMI,” Inos said.
This year’s global theme is “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise — Universal Access and Human Rights.”
In an interview, Morena said although they only reported one case this year, this should still alarm the community.
One person may affect many, he added.
He said it is the family that plays a very important role in the education campaign to prevent the spread of HIV/STD.
