More than 700 people in Bermuda have either been diagnosed with AIDS or have tested positive for the HIV virus.

And this has caused counsellors to intensify their focus on prevention of the disease.

Dr. Alyce Vyann-Howell -- an International Red Cross trainer in AIDS and HIV and a counsellor for Atlanta's Sister Love Foundation -- spent last week on the Island certifying people to educate others about the disease.

The Sister Love Foundation provides assistance to women and children with AIDS or HIV.

Dr. Vyann-Howell told The Royal Gazette that the course -- Train the Trainers -- concentrated on preventing the spread of the disease.

She said: "The major reason (for educators) to get out there is to help people live their life safer when AIDS is around -- we know it's not going to be going away any time soon and we know there is not a cure -- but it is 100 per cent preventable if you don't get the virus in your body.

"We talk about how you can get it and specify it's not who you are it's what you do.''.

To prevent the disease spreading, she continued, people should not have unprotected sexual intercourse and not share needles of any kind -- even ear piercing or tattoo needles.

"When we talk prevention we're talking about developing barriers to prevent body fluids from going from one person to another.'' An example of such a barrier was a latex condom especially when used with a spermicide.

And it looked at "understanding transmission thoroughly and helping other people know that there are certain ways in which this virus is definitely transmitted and what body fluids carry the virus,'' she continued. Those body fluids -- blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk -- were very rich with the virus and it only took a little bit to be passed from one person to another for transmission to occur.

She added that educators would help victims of the disease and those who were affected by the disease which had struck someone close to them.

"If you talk about family members, friends and the community then those are the people who have been affected by the disease.

"Dealing with HIV and AIDS does not just focus on the individual -- it deals with a whole lot of other spectrums.'' Individuals from various industries, both Government and private, attended the five-day course at the Ocean View Golf Course.

They received certification from the American Red Cross which qualifies them to teach the basic facts about the disease and shows they are capable of dealing with sensitive issues.

Representatives from legal, medical and spiritual organisations spoke to the group to give them a wide range of information on different aspects associated with the disease.

Their job now was to get out into the community and spread the message, said Dr. Vyann-Howell.

"Sharing whatever information they have learnt here is their responsibility.'' This will include group presentations and counselling of co-workers, friends and relatives.

Dr. Alyce Vyann-Howell