The Maseru district, under the auspices of the District AIDS Committee, will commemorate the World AIDS Day (WAD) at the occasion scheduled to take place at Ribaneng Community Council on Wednesday February 25, 2009.

This year the district commemoration will focus on leadership, youth leaders of tomorrow with much focus on herd boys and orphans and vulnerable children. The occasion will be observed through speeches, songs and traditional dances.

The commemoration has been preceded by a series of build up activities which include sensitization of Members of parliament, Principal Chiefs, District stakeholders, Heads of departments and Maseru District Council and a one day HIV and AIDS awareness workshop for 3 groups of out-of-school youth and herd boys.

Other activities were awareness campaigns for schools, 5 day HIV Testing and Counseling services; collection of Clothing and food items from individuals/organizations and departments for the orphans; sensitization of community leaders about essential services for children and orphans; community Mobilization and male focused discussions.

The World AIDS Day is commemorated annually at the national and internal levels on 01 December. The commemoration is in remembrance of those who have died in the fight against HIV and AIDS and those infected and affected by HIV.

The national commemoration was held on the same date in Qacha’s Nek. The global WAD slogan for the period starting 2001 to 2010 remains as Stop AIDS, Keep the promise, while the theme to be promoted alongside the slogan has been communicated as “leadership” for 2008 and 2009. The theme has been further been localized and adopted by the country as youth, leaders of tomorrow.
Media Contacts:

Section Head, Advocacy & Communications— Phumla Moleko (Mrs)
Communications Officer— Mpolokeng Mpeli (Mrs)
3rd Floor Maseru Sun Hotel Office Block, Orpen Road, Maseru, Lesotho, Southern Africa
P O Box 11232, Maseru, Lesotho, Southern Africa
(+266) 22 326794 (Office—Directorate of Policy, Strategy & Communications)
58854304 (Phumla) • 63106332 (Mpolokeng) • 22 327 210 (facsimile) • molekop@nas.org.ls