PANAMA CITY – Tiny flames glowed by the bay Sunday night in remembrance of all those lost to HIV/AIDS.
BASIC NWFL, Inc. and St. Andrews Episcopal Church hosted a candlelight vigil in recognition of World AIDS Day, held every year on the first Sunday in December.
“Here tonight, we just want to bring awareness, as always, and hopefully dispel some of the stigma to do with HIV/AIDS. …We want people to know that this is something that could be preventable and we want to make the community aware that it’s still a big deal, that it’s not something you should sweep under the rug,” said Pamela Williams, project manager at BASIC NWFL, Inc.
The night began with a candle lighting ceremony and words from Steve Bornhoft, BASIC board chair, and the Rev. Dr. Margaret Shepard, rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church; Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki gave a proclamation. After, participants walked across Beach Drive, where the church is located, and stood on the beach for prayer led by Shepard.
“This is part of our community outreach, to join with BASIC and in order to support those people who are living with HIV/AIDS, families who have loved ones who have died of HIV/AIDS and for the research that is going on. We would like for zero cases of HIV/AIDS – that’s what we’re striving for,” said Shepard.
Justin Omorinola, a prevention specialist with BASIC, teaches African-Americans aged 18-24 about HIV/AIDS and ways to avoid contracting it.
“HIV/AIDS is really important to me because the people in that age group are my friends, my comrades, so I feel like not only is it my job, but I feel like I’m really responsible to help educate people that I know, that I go to school with,” he said.
Others had a less personal connection to the disease, but felt no less strongly about the night’s message.
“I’m here to help observe World AIDS Day and it’s important to me because it’s a very serious disease that destroys people’s lives and families and because I want to support finding a cure for AIDS and offer remembrance to those people who have died of AIDS,” said Nancy Young.
BASIC NWFL, Inc is a local non-profit agency that provides service and educational materials to those living with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones in Bay, Calhoun, Washington, Holmes and Jackson counties.
“We try to get them any medical care that they need, we try to get them dental care, we make sure that they can pay their insurance, we help them with their medication and even their basic, day-to-day needs,” said Williams.
“We in Panama City ought to be very, very proud that we have a group here like BASIC that does this sort of thing and I’m very proud that my parishioners recognize what they do,” said Shepard.