On December 1st, UNAIDS Secretariat, the National AIDS Programme and their partners of the World AIDS Campaign Task Force commemorated the World AIDS Day (WAD) at El Minya Stadium in El Minya.

The commemoration was attended by representatives of UN agencies (UNAIDS, UNESCO UNFPA, UNICEF and UNODC), members of the Minister of Health and Population/National AIDS Programme (Dr. Zein El Taher), Goodwill Ambassadors Khaled Abol Naga and AmrWaked and NGOs (the Egyptian Network on NGOs Against AIDS, CHL and Better Life). The UN, Canadian International Development Agency, the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and Shell financially supported the organization of the event.

In the morning of December 1st, after a march to raise general populations' awareness on the issues of HIV/AIDS, about 500 youths (16-20 years old) from Minya and its surroundings gathered in the city's stadium for the opening of the commemorations. The stadium had been previously decorated with banners and flags of various sizes with slogans and information on HIV/AIDS and the best way to respond in Egypt.

The participants received hand-made bags and materials on HIVAIDS: t-shirts, caps, Red Ribbons, pocket calendars and documents on the epidemic. All the material bore the slogan of the 2007 World AIDS Campaign in Egypt: "Positive Life=Positive Actions in responding to HIV/AIDS"

The camp was lead by three youth-led associations conducting training sessions on HIV/AIDS designed in collaboration with UNAIDS. youth leaders used interative methods as role-play to communicate information around basic facts on HIV/AIDS, transmissions and prevention methods, services available in Egypt and measures to fight HIV related stigma towards people infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS

“Young people have the power to lead the fight against AIDS if they are given the right tools and trust to do it. All countries in the World are at risk of HIV. Egypt has a chance today to curb that spread so we should use it well” said Dr. Wessam El Beih, UNAIDS Country Officer. Goodwill Ambassadors Mr Waked and Mr Abol Naga, with improvised a much-appreciated sketch on the importance of using the toll-free HOTLINE on HIV/AIDS (08007008000) to get correct information on the epidemic. One of the Youth lead Groups, Dance4Life involved the public in a Drill calling for "responsible life and responsible choice" to fight HIV/AIDS), while the Federation of Medical Students presented a song done for the World AIDS Campaign and stressing the importance of fighting stigma and discrimination. Moreover, the Master of Ceremonies Mr. Ayman Kaysoni staged a live Quiz on the epidemic with prizes offered to the particpants. 

A live concert by the famous band Habayebna and a DJ set closed the commemoration.

The commemoration of the WAD was part of the World AIDS Campaign (WAC) carried out by the Expanded Theme Group on HIV/AIDS in Upper Egypt. Stands for distribution of informative material and for awareness-raising were set up in Aswan, Luxor, Qena, Souhag, and Assiut during the stops of the UN-led Sailing the Nile for the MDG.

The WAC will continue for the whole December with the following: an awareness whole day event in Alexandria City Stars mall on Friday Dec. 8th an event at the British University in Egypt (Dec. 9th); a National Conference on HIV/AIDS and the role of young medical students (Kasr el Ainy Medical School, Dec. 13th); a Charity Walk against stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV/AIDS (Cairo, Dec. 15th); and a Creative Art Competition for journalists, writers and artists. 

The WAC is a world wide campaign to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS and call for collective response to the epidemic. In Egypt, 2007 Campaign, it aims to:

-Tackle stigma and discrimination against people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS

-Raise the perception of risk among the general population through the promotion of the HOTLINE, the Volunteer Confidential Counseling and Testing Centers and the other HIV-related services offered by governmental and non-governmental institutions

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Wessam El Beih (UNAIDS Country Officer), ,Tel. +20 10 366 2440

Umberto Bernardo (UNAIDS Technical Officer/UN Volunteer) ,Tel +20 16 393 1628

Source: Sailing The Nile  

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