Youth volunteers for Philippine Red Cross Lapu-Lapu/Cordova Chapter gather at Plaza Rizal as they participate in the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
CDN photo/norman v. mendoza
Around a hundred youth volunteers for the Philippine Red Cross Lapu-Lapu/Cordova Chapter joined the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at the Plaza Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City last Wednesday night.
Vic Jay Gonzal, manager of Philippine Red Cross Lapu-Lapu/Cordova Chapter, said in an interview with CDN that as an organization advocating and spreading awareness against AIDS and HIV, they participate along with other agencies worldwide initiating the campaign.
He said, they all spread along the streets of Lapu-Lapu City and some barangays giving leaflets to people regarding how AIDS and HIV can be avoided and how they treat people affected by it. The leaflet also includes contact numbers and agencies where people may seek help regarding HIV/AIDS cases.
Later in the evening, the youth volunteers gathered at the Plaza Rizal for the candlelight, offered a prayer to those who died of AIDS and a prayer for a successful awareness campaign against AIDS and HIV.
Each of the youth volunteers sat down on the ground, holding a lighted candle and spent several minutes of silent prayer.
“We are aware of the increasing number of HIV and AIDS cases especially here in Cebu which is second to Manila but are not discouraged despite that but we continue our advocacy and educate the people about it,” said Gonzal.
The youth volunteers who were mostly from Lapu-Lapu City were all skilled of basic life support and is entitled of activities initiated by the Philippine Red Cross for youth volunteers. The Lapu-Lapu/Cordova Chapter has around 500 youth volunteers.