Bermudians are aware of the dangers of Aids, but still many in the community are failing to protect themselves, according to counsellor Carolyn Armstrong.

Speaking before today's World Aids Day, Ms Armstrong said many people are making dangerous choices despite the risks.

“We have sex education out there, but there are many in the community who continue to consider themselves invincible, who continue to say ‘It's not going to happen to me,'” she said.

“My concern today is ignorance and the lack of application of the information we have. They know, but they fail to adopt it in their everyday lives.”

According to the Ministry of Health there are 297 people living with HIV or Aids on the Island, while the World Health Organisation said last year around 33.3 million people internationally are living with HIV.

So far this year there have been 11 new HIV diagnoses, five new Aids diagnoses and four Aids-related deaths in Bermuda.

Health Minister Zane DeSilva will read a proclamation at noon today at City Hall to mark World Aids day, as well as its theme this year of “Universal Access and Human Rights.”

Last year 1.8 million people died as a result of Aids internationally.

Ms Armstrong, director of the charity Supportive Therapy for Aids persons and their Relatives (STAR), has worked to help people live with the virus.

Next summer, the charity will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

“We have had some 153 people stay here at our Lighthouse facility over the years and continue to have a waiting list,” she said.

“We provide a family environment conducive to healing and moving away from particular lifestyle.”

She said that while people are aware of Aids and HIV, they are still tempted to engage in high risk behaviour even if they have lost loved ones to the virus.

“I have seen people lose their father, their mother and their uncle to HIV,” she said. “They don't want to hear about it, and often, they find themselves walking down the same path.

“Young people plan, based on the behavior that we model. Parents, relatives and friends. We need to send a clear message. We need to send a clean message. Send a message that says something.

“In the media we will see a great, informative story, but then on television a lot of the programming seems to encourage these dangerous lifestyle choices.

“We are doing some of the same things we were doing in 1990.”