Taylor backs HIV/AIDS Partnership

Ross Taylor took time out from the BLACKCAPS World Cup bid to visit youth on the island involved in the UNICEF-sponsored Health and Family Life Education programme.

Taylor's visit was organised as part of the alliance between the International Cricket Council (ICC), UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS to raise awareness of the situation of children and young people affected by HIV.

The batsman, currently nursing a hamstring injury, said: "It was really good for me to interact with the children and to share with them some of the facts about preventing the spread of HIV.

"As the youngest member on the team, I think that the feeling was that I was close enough in age to these kids that I could relate to them in a real way.

“I was especially glad to hear that they have gotten a pretty good grounding in how to keep themselves safe and also that so many of them expressed some very positive life goals that they are working towards."

Elaine King, UNICEF Health Education Specialist for the Eastern Caribbean, explained that her agency works with educators in Antigua to make sure that appropriate HIV education is included in the lives of young people.

"Through the Health and Family Life Education programme, UNICEF works with teachers in Antigua to provide a holistic range of topics to the children that help not only with building their skills, but with building their self-esteem,” she explained.

"When children have a poor self image it affects their decision-making and negotiating skills, and how they deal with peer pressure on issues concerning their sexuality – as well as other social issues such as violence and drug abuse."