The Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit is a sub-division of Health Promotion with special emphasis on HIV/AIDS. This unit focuses on providing specialty services to the general population, directly and indirectly. The overall goal of the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit is to reach its dual goals: (1) to reduce the spread of HIV infection, (2) to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals, family and the community. It is imperative that the unit implement and coordinate a response that reaches it five strategic areas which are:

1. Prevention of HIV infection,
2. Care, treatment and support for people with HIV and AIDS,
3. Advocacy, policy development and legislation, generating,
4. Using strategic information, and
5. Program coordination and management.

Health Education is one strategy of health promotion and is focused on helping individuals learn and use health-enhancing skills. Health education is often very visible and tangible, and includes educational programs, activities and skill-building group or individual sessions. Health education is part of health promotion. Communication uses the media for information campaigns to raise awareness of health issues and help promote healthy choices and decision-making among the public.

Health Information Unit is responsible for collection and collation of data. The management team comprises of a Health Statistician, Surveillance Officer, a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) officer and Data Entry Clerks. Data is collected weekly, monthly and quarterly from all health institutions, including private doctors. The Health Statistician evaluates programs and projects. Monthly and quarterly reports are generated and an Annual Health Report is compiled and disseminated.

For the first quarter of this year, the Health department has seen an outbreak in Gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is very contagious. The virus is spread mainly through the fecal-oral route. Washing your hands often has proven to be very effective in eliminating and reducing the spread of microorganisms.

Please view the attached files and kindly disseminate by:

1. Posting the Proper Hand Washing Poster in you restrooms and kitchens as a guide for clean hands (preferable above the wash station).
2. Distributing or sharing the 10 Facts of Gastroenteritis with all staff/employees. Feel free to share among the community.

Be part of the solution to stop the spread of Gastroenteritis as well as to promote healthy living.

NB. If you require a hand washing demonstration, contact the Health Promotion Unit to schedule a session.

Contact: (869) 469-8010, 469-5521 x 2037/2064,
email: healthpromotion@niagov.com