MINISTER of Housing and Water, Mr. Harry Narine Nawbatt yesterday officially launched the ‘HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programme in the Workplace’, at Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

He said the scourge is evident and his ministry, recognising it, will embark on a massive sensitisation drive to target employees at workplaces, their families and even people with whom they come into contact, to help reduce the spread.

Nawbatt said the World Bank established a fund in several countries, a few years ago, to assist in controlling and preventing the proliferation.

Fight AIDS, not people with AIDS’ is a most appropriate theme for the campaign, he remarked to the participants drawn from his ministry, the Ministry of Health and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

In his address, he announced that the allocation of 500 house lots to persons affected and infected with HIV/AIDS will be concluded next year.

Nawbatt challenged young Caribbean scientists to develop a cure for the dreaded sickness which threatens the entire world.

He said, over the years, Caribbean people have advanced so much that they should be able to cure HIV/AIDS.

Nawbatt noted, with much concern, that people’s lifestyles have changed over the years and urged youths to adapt healthy practices, taking the AIDS pandemic into consideration.

Other speakers on the occasion were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Water, Ms. Claudette Moore; Coordinator, Line Ministry, Health Sector Development Unit, Mr. Patrick Mentore; Focal Point, Ministry of Housing and Water, Ms. Radhika Lall and National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Programme Manager, Dr. Shanti Singh.