HIV treatment activists say that persons living with Aids are a permanent underclass afflicted with a sickness so taboo that they cannot easily access the healthcare they need because some medical professionals don't want to treat Aids victims. More than that, studies show that those in advanced stages they can't find work and can't pay for shelter, and are often cast away to the merciless margins of society. One group that's helping with feeding these persons is the Alliance Against Aids, which collects food donations of those living with aids. The Quality Assurance Development program, quads in the ministry of education is acutely aware of the needs and has collected a supply of food from its staff for donation to the alliance. Director Rodel Beltran Perrera commended the gesture, but told us a lot more is needed because the need is great and this amount will be gone in no time.
Rodel Beltran Pererra, Exec. Dir., Alliance Against Aids
"A lot of agencies do fundraisers for us because the need of our clients are constant throughout the year for food, for clothing, and this season is no different. I think the Christmas season is when temperatures go down and so we need warm clothes and we need as well non-perishable food and agencies that can assist us its quite welcome. This work that we do encompasses the entire family, brings in clients, brings in family members, and the support starts psychological, with psychological support and then of course their need. We recently got an ILO project donation, our offices are cleaned and so this will again be distributed not only to Belize City but to Dangriga and San Ignacio so this goes very fast. The need is there and it gets to them very quickly."
Yvonne Codd, QADS
"It is hoped that this donation is not only going to be a one-time thing noh, that it can be continuous and ongoing throughout the year and that we will be able to always give Alliance supplies not only at Christmas but at other times. We have a lot of people living with HIV/Aids out there in Belize and we as a person need to care more about those persons living with HIV/Aids. We need to support them, we need to give them all that love. We can't just well we'll do it as a one-shot thing, it needs to be ongoing. These people need our help because we don't know if one day it might be us."
Those wishing to donate food items to the cause can contact the Alliance Against Aids organization.