FHI - FHI Country Offices Commemorate World AIDS Day

DECEMBER 2006 — World AIDS Day, observed Dec. 1 each year since 1988, is dedicated to raising awareness of the global AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. As in years past, FHI joined with national AIDS councils and organizations around the world to commemorate the day. Besides serving on scientific and communications committees, FHI contributes funds toward national health education and HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns linked to World AIDS Day.

For example, in the Dominican Republic, Ghana and Papua New Guinea, FHI tapped the expressive power of music by supporting production of music CDs and concerts featuring songs relating to HIV/AIDS prevention, stigma and discrimination. In Senegal, FHI sponsored media activities, including public service announcements and dissemination of a documentary on 20 years of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. And in Abuja, Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo set a positive example by accessing HIV counseling and testing at a World AIDS Day commemoration.

Because UNAIDS data show that in many regions of the world, new HIV infections are heavily concentrated among young people between the ages of 15 and 24, FHI's Jordan office focused its activities on youth. From Nov. 30 – Dec. 7, a main street in the municipality of Irbid was closed to vehicle traffic as youth scouts and peer educators advocated for prevention, treatment and care. Artists and actors drew and performed while activists distributed red ribbon pins and cards calling for action to stop AIDS. For the fourth consecutive year, the University of Jordan hosted a festival with activities led and designed by youth.

Although many activities sponsored by FHI's Egypt's office also targeted young people, the country's main event for World AIDS Day appealed to youth and adults alike. Beginning Oct. 26, eight majestic felucca boats (traditional wooden sailing boats) sailed the Nile to raise awareness of Egypt's UN Millennium Development Goals. One of these goals is to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV.

Afloat until Dec. 8, the boats called in ports from Aswan in Upper Egypt to Cairo. FHI/Egypt was responsible for managing activities in Sohag governorate, where the boats were welcomed on Nov. 13. In conjunction with their arrival, FHI supported production of a 30-minute play on HIV/AIDS and conducted awareness raising and peer education workshops for youth. Complementing this effort, the National AIDS Program worked with the National Council for Youth, FHI and other organizations to hold youth camps in Ismailia (near the mouth of the Gulf of Suez), reaching youth and encouraging activism in a number of governorates where the boats did not call.

On World AIDS Day, the felucca boats arrived in the governorate of Beni-Suef. The community held a welcome parade and youth march as well as a film screening, seminars and song and dance performances with HIV/AIDS themes. The governor and health officials addressed the public. Organizations and communities throughout Egypt hosted celebrations as well. FHI participated in the task force charged with overseeing all of Egypt's World AIDS Day events.

According to Cherif Soliman, FHI/Egypt country director, raising awareness among young people is a key focus of the Egyptian government's HIV/AIDS strategy. FHI supports youth peer educators who ease discussion of HIV/AIDS, often a difficult or even taboo subject. "If Egypt is to be successful in preventing HIV/AIDS, its young people must speak out against stigma and discrimination and demand prevention and treatment options," Soliman says. "Silence serves no one. That's why World AIDS Day is important. We try to use World AIDS Day to generate greater awareness, sensitivity and activism all year long."

PHOTO (home page, top): In Egypt, felucca boats sailed the Nile to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals. The boat representing the goal to halt the spread of HIV is far left. (www.offshoot.tv)

PHOTO (bottom): Simon Cartier of FHI/Nigeria (far right) counseled and tested President Olusegun Obasanjo (seated, far left) at a World AIDS Day commemoration in Abuja. (FHI/Nigeria)

To read about World AIDS Day activities in Malaba Kenya, follow this link.