Embassy Events

U.S. Youth/AIDS Ambassador Emmy Rossum visits the HIV/AIDS Center

December 28, 2007

On Friday, December 28, 2007, U.S. Ambassador Ned L. Siegel, his wife Stephanie Siegel and son Justin, along with actress Emmy Rossum, U.S. Youth/AIDS Ambassador, toured the Bahamas HIV/AIDS Center in the Royal Victoria Gardens.  While there they met with the Director of the HIV/AIDS Center, Mrs. Rosa Mae Bain and the Bahamas Youth HIV/AIDS Ambassadors, led by chairman, Keith Kemp. 

During the tour, Ms. Rossum and the HIV/AIDS Youth Ambassadors exchanged information about the activities they are involved in to educate people about HIV/AIDS and to promote healthy lifestyles among youth.  Ms. Rossum told Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living (YAPL) about her tour throughout the U.S. last year with rapper Ludacris as part of the “Kick Me Campaign.”  The campaign was a spin on the old practical joke that involved young people wearing a special “Kick Me” sign that carried messages about HIV prevention.  Ms. Rossum also noted that she was impressed with the Bahamian Youth Ambassadors who take the HIV/AIDS awareness message to heart and work with students throughout The Bahamas.

Ambassador Siegel emphasized that HIV/AIDS awareness efforts should be consistently promoted year-round and noted that discrimination and ignorance are some of the challenges presently faced in the fight against the disease.  He said that using young role models and spokespersons such as Emmy Rossum can help break down barriers to communication and ensure the HIV/AIDS prevention message reaches more young people, thereby decreasing the spread of HIV/AIDS.