Two Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross HIV/AIDS Instructors were in neighbouring Montserrat to conduct a three-day training for HIV/AIDS instructor trainers on that island.

Manuel Lugo and Eric Philip left Antigua on Friday July 15 and commenced the training on HIV infection and prevention.

HIV/STI Coordinator Joan Gomes said the training in Montserrat covered such areas as living with HIV, managing risk situations, sexuality, values, attitudes and condom demonstration.

Gomes added that she now looks forward to the Montserrat Red Cross having its own Red Cross HIV/AIDS instructors.

Commenting further, Gomes said that the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross has four international HIV/AIDS instructors, 20 Instructor Trainers and 80 Peer Educators from the girls' high school, the grammar school and the Ottos Comprehensive School .

The Training programmes in Antigua have recently been sponsored by UNICEF, the Red Cross Federation and UNODC.

Red Cross Director General Gerald Price said that the programme is scheduled for Barbuda in September 2005 and in keeping with the fundamental principles of the Red Cross, the National Society will work with intensity to eliminate stigma and discrimination people living with HIV/AIDS face.