H.O.P.E
H.O.P.E., "Helping Ourselves in a Positive Environment", is the local support group for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
All persons living with HIV/AIDS from both Dutch and French side are welcome to join this group.Language used is English.
To enter the group one has to make contact with:
Dr. Gerard van Osch,
gvanosch@sxmaidsfoundation.org
Tel: 599-544-5374
Mrs. Suzette Moses,
suzette@sxmaidsfoundation.org
Tel: 599-551-0075
To ensure confidentiality of the members, meeting place and times are only given to members. New members would have to give some proof of status, or enter through the intervention of Dr. van Osch.
This group is really only for persons living with HIV/AIDS. On the request of the group, non infected persons can be invited to give lectures or information.
The support group is meant to share experiences, and give support to one another, but also to empower and educate persons living with HIV/AIDS about their infection.
Yearly we strive to send several persons from the group to CRN+ meetings (CRN+ is the Caribbean Regional Network for People living with HIV/AIDS. This organization organizes yearly conferences to empower PLWHA).
Persons that feel fearful to meet within the group, but would like to meet other PLWHA are brought in contact with counselors from HOPE. (persons themselves infected with HIV).
HOPE also envisions to empower PLWHA in such way that they will be able to become activists in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Recently one of the members, Mr. Gerrit Koelers, who is also a member of the HIV/AIDS Platform, a multi-sectoral body to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS, came forward and informed the community about his HIV infection.
his is a major step forward in the reduction of Stigma and Discrimination against PLWHA. Gerrit has received nothing but support after his "coming out", which gives us hope to continue this fight and gives hope that in the future we can more effectively deal with this disease.
