T&T Red Cross offers First Aid assistance, HIV/AIDS education at Caribbean cultural event

Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society (TTRCS) offered First Aid assistance during this year’s Carifesta IX, the biennial celebration of Caribbean art and culture.

A TTRCS Health team was based at the main site, the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, for the duration of the nine-day event in Trinidad.

It was a reasonably calm week for First Aid volunteers at the September 22-October 1 event. There were a few injuries and some hospital runs, but so far nothing the TTRC team couldn’t handle. Other organizations that offered medical assistance to Carifesta participants and spectators were Eastern Divers, Secat and Global Medical Response.

Whiel First Aid was the main venue, HIV and AIDS was the main issue at the Carifesta Youth Village. Volunteers from the TTRCS HIV/AIDS programme gave out flyers and information all week and attracted attention from young people present at the event.

Cindy Parris and Camille Williams went straight for the information. “It’s good that this is here. HIV/AIDS information should be everywhere,” Parris said. “I know a lot is being said about HIV and AIDS already on television and in the media, but it doesn’t seem as if people are listening. Going out to people - there should be more of that.”

Friday September 29 will be the last day for the HIV/AIDS booth at the Youth Village but the First Aid volunteers and the rest of the health team will be present at Hasely Crawford Stadium for the remainder of the festival.