Revived Rapport Members represent Turks & Caicos in Canada at Int’l Aids Conference

By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

#TurksandCaicos, August 4, 2022 – The Turks and Caicos Islands were among the countries represented at the International AIDS Conference in Canada this past week.  Three members of Rapport joined the Health Promotions and Advocacy Unit of the Ministry of Health and Human Services to comprise a five-person delegation to glean and make presentation at the convening in Montreal.

Rapport is an organization dedicated to educating youth between 10 and 35 about sexual health.

The delegation includes Denae Dennie, former TCI Junior Minister of Tourism; Arean Louis, former Youth Ambassador and Arielle Neely, a former Miss Teen Turks & Caicos contender and ambassador. The three traveled with representatives from the Ministry of Health and Human Services for the weeklong conference which wrapped up on August 2.

The trio was excited about several aspects of the trip, Dennie explained what she was looking forward to:  “In Rapport we’re always learning about HIV and STDs so just being able to go there and see what the different scientists and doctors have to say.”

Neely was thrilled at the prospect of meeting like-minded people.

“I think I am most excited meeting other advocates for sexual health and sharing ideas and seeing how we can collaborate.”

She said sexual health was a bit of a taboo in the Turks and Caicos Islands as it is on many small islands and going out to the conference and experiencing different points of view from different nations advocating for sexual health would give her a confidence boost to raise the issues at home.

Louis said he was itching to learn how the country could tackle STIs including HIV as a team.

“I’m eager to find out ways we can work together as a team to help bring awareness about HIV here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

He explained that other than networking , the three of them would be learning as much as they could from the presentations, one of which will be delivered by Aldora Robinson, long time Aids Education and Rapport leader and Director in the Health Promotions and Advocacy Unit Director of the ministry.

“We want to bring that same information back here so that we can lower HIV and AIDS count here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

The plan is to share that information directly with Islanders in schools and otherwise to increase safety in sexual encounters.