New Faces in HIV Fight

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Health News

Friday, 12 October 2012 02:30

By Carol Williams

Antigua St. John's - Francoise Bowen is stepping out to be one of the faces in the photographs educating the public about HIV/AIDS.

She is not alone. Her sister Junique Charles, a model, has joined the campaign.

With the help of Antiguan photographer Elorna Alexander, the two shot some 500 pictures at Coconut Grove Restaurant and Ciboney Beach Club.

The aim is to select the best of the photographs, insert HIV messages, and have them sent out on social media sites such as Facebook frequented by millions of people, many of them youth, she said.

"We are anticipating some positive reviews on this and hope that everyone would come on board to fight the spread of HIV."

The decision by the 29-year-old to mount this campaign, sanctioned by the AIDS Secretariat, was influenced by the death in 2008 of a close family friend.

"I think I've seen the worst side of AIDS," Bowen said as she recalled the treatment and attitudes of many residents to the individual, including when he was hospitalised.

"I'm a compassionate, caring person and I knew someone who was infected and they're no longer with us unfortunately and to see how they were treated by society it hit me, it really hit me to the core and that really sparked me to really come on board to help the AIDS Secretariat."

In 2010 Bowen, who wears many hats including acting coach and acting director of the Nazarene Drama team, volunteered her services to the AIDS Secretariat and has been working behind the scenes since then.

After much prayer and discussions with those close to her, she decided to play a more visible role in  educating the public.

"HIV/AIDS affects us all," she said as she extended an open invitation for entertainers to get more involved in the campaign.

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