THE Guyana Prison and Fire Services yesterday received some $ 1.4M in equipment and materials from the Home Affairs Ministry to aid the promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness among their employees.

The gesture aimed to control or prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus among employees and their families, and to offer support to those infected or affected by disease.

The items were procured through the Home Affairs Ministry HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control project ‘My Health/My Life’.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee delivering remarks at the handing over ceremony held in his Ministry’s board room, urged the beneficiaries to maximize the use of the items to achieve their objective.

The minister lauded the committee within his ministry that made the gesture possible and pointed out the television sets will play a critical role in imparting the awareness to prisoners given their in house setting.

Fire Chief Lawrence David, lauded the Home Affairs Ministry for their kindly gesture and posited that the 3 television sets and VCR combos, 5 boxes of disposable gloves and 2 boxes of disposable masks will significantly enhance their HIV/AIDS awareness programme.

David pointed out that the disposable gloves and masks are critical firefighting gears that will greatly assist his officers especially when responding to emergency situation where blood and bodily fluid may be present.

Prison Director Dale Erskine, also said the items received will build on their programme to create behavioural change among prisoners and his officers.

The Guyana Prison Service received 7 television sets and VCRs, 7 DVD players, 1 public address system, 8 boxes of disposable gloves and 2 boxes of disposable masks.