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1. INTRODUCTION
The
World AIDS Day (WAD) is globally commemorated on 1st December of
each year. The day is observed in remembrance of those who have
died of AIDS, and those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
In Lesotho, a policy decision was made to rotate the national
commemoration event by districts. This year, Qacha’snek would be
the host district and the actual venue has been determined as
Sehlaba-thebe.
The
campaigning slogan for global WAD commemoration for the period
2001 to 2010 remains as “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise”. The WAD
theme to be promoted alongside the slogan has been communicated
as “Leadership” for the years 2007 and 2008. It has been
enhanced by a country specific theme: “Boetapele! Bacha
Boetapele ba Kamoso!”.” The global and country specific themes
for this year thus remain the same as the previous year.
The
theme is based on the United Nations General Assembly Special
Session (UNGASS) on AIDS, wherein all 189 Heads of State
committed themselves, in June 2001, to the fight against HIV and
AIDS. Core indicators to measure progress on the Declaration of
Commitment (DoC) on HIV and AIDS were thus drawn for the next 10
years. Individual countries were expected set their own targets,
monitor and report performance to the UNGASS every two years.
This
press conference seeks to brief members of the media about the
planned built-up activities and the main programme for the
commemorative day in Qacha’snek.
2.
OBJECTIVES
The
overall objective of this year’s activities for WAD is still to
enhance leadership commitment to fight HIV and AIDS in order to
increase the number of Basotho who are reached by effective HIV
and AIDS messages as well as increase the number of Basotho who
access Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). It is hoped that these
activities will, in time, positively influence positive living
and the behaviour of the targeted groups and that increasing
numbers of people will present themselves for counselling and
testing, thereby furthering the aims of the Know Your Status
campaign. In the immediate term, the intention is to provide
people with an understanding of the need to know one’s HIV
status, thereby assisting to make the decision to be tested when
they feel ready to do so.
The
specific objectives of this year’s activities are:
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To
create awareness and promote leadership commitment in the
fight against HIV & AIDS
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To
create HIV and AIDS awareness in communities.
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To
ensure that youth between the ages of 15 and 24 correctly
identify ways of preventing the sexual transmission of HIV
and reject major misconceptions about HIV transmission.
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To
strengthen the involvement of men as partners in the fight
against HIV and AIDS.
2.
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES
Several build up activities towards the commemoration day have
been planned along the stated objectives. These include:
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Designing and distribution of a special series of
theme-related targeted IEC materials (posters, pamphlets,
banners, etc)
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Providing carrier bags for support groups in the host
district
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Holding media briefings
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A
week of prayer by Lesotho Interreligious AIDS Consortium (LIRAC)
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Empowerment of youth in the host district through debates,
radio competitions and drama
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HIV and AIDS concert
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A
gala dinner
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A
tour of leaders to support groups in the host district and a
roundtable discussion on the district HIV and AIDS response.
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A
roundtable discussion for leaders in all sectors of the
country.
3.
WORLD AIDS DAY PROGRAMME
The
proposed WAD programme shall entail:
4.
CONCLUSION
The
foregoing has outlined a set of activities aimed at ensuring a
successful build up and final commemoration of the WAD. I edge
all media houses and the general population to contribute in
various ways to raising HIV and AIDS awareness and thereby
encourage positive living. Those who will not manage to go to
Qacha’snek should commemorate in their localities within
villages, communities and organisations. Other nine districts
will organise district commemorations after the national one.
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