The Guyana Red Cross Society has announced the winners of the 'Fighting Stigma and Discrimination in a country with AIDS' Essay and Poster Competition.

According to a press release from the Red Cross, in the essay competition, Natasha Gildhari won first prize, Raeesa Persaud of Helena Primary, second, and Dexter Gouviea of Santa Rose third. In the poster competition Petal Ifill of Brickdam Secondary, Caesar Macey of East Ruimveldt Secondary and Shevon Seaton of the South Ruimveldt Secondary won first, second and third prizes respectively.

The Red Cross said the contest was held in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and World Bank. Representatives from the society and the ministry are expected to hand over the prizes worth as much as $10,000. The release said Gildhari was recently given her prize and the others will be handed out at year-end assemblies throughout the week. The contest rules entailed composing a short essay or making a poster under the said theme.

It was open to secondary school age students countrywide, though the Red Cross said it targeted specific schools from regions one and four. It also said it hosted complimentary activities such as talks on stigma and discrimination at school assemblies and poster workshops at its headquarters.

The Red Cross said the posters were judged with assistance from the Burrowes School of Art and the essays by a panel including representatives from G Plus and PEPFAR-funded projects.