World AIDS Day Is a Global Event
The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report has compiled the following list of events taking place in recognition of World AIDS Day around the world:
Canada: The Canadian AIDS Society launched its first national AIDS awareness campaign on Nov. 25, continuing through Saturday. The campaign is focused on the "key role" men play in reducing HIV transmission (Canadian AIDS Society release, 11/23). In a separate event in Toronto, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance will launch their global campaign on HIV/AIDS at its Sunday service, where an offering for the World Council of Churches' HIV/AIDS projects in Africa will be collected. Parallel events will take place in Australia, India, Switzerland, Germany, Hong Kong, Kenya, Ecuador and Russia. The alliance "urg[es] churches to reject all forms of stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS, promoting HIV/AIDS prevention activities and mobilizing resources to prevent HIV/AIDS" (Canadian Press, 11/27).
China: The first televised play on HIV/AIDS will air during prime time on Saturday, Agence France-Presse reports. The play, which "stresses that AIDS can hit anyone," may be viewed by the 92% of Chinese who have access to television. The play comes at a time when experts are warning that China "is standing on the brink of an epidemic" (Agence
France-Presse, 11/28).
France: Health Minister Bernard Kouchner on Wednesday announced France's three-year plan to fight HIV/AIDS, the Associated Press reports. The plan, which includes a commitment of $58 million in 2002, will kick off on Saturday with a television campaign (Associated Press, 11/28).
Ireland: The Irish Times reports that it is set to publish a 12-page supplement on Saturday that will include information and materials to help with classroom discussions of HIV/AIDS (Irish Times, 11/27).
South Africa: A day of poetry, singing, traditional dance and speeches to "bring people together" will conclude with a flame-lighting ceremony in each of the country's nine provinces, with organizers encouraging citizens to "light their own candles ... wherever they happen to be at 7 pm" (Xinhua News Agency, 11/26). Also, Partnership Against HIV/AIDS has begun a door-to-door campaign to "address discrimination, deepen understanding of HIV/AIDS care issues and link families to local services." The campaign concludes on Saturday after a Friday event where 7,000 volunteers will "hit the streets" passing out educational flyers and stickers (South African Press Association, 11/28).
United Kingdom: Mayor of Darlington County Isobel Hartley will release 1,000 red balloons on Saturday to mark World AIDS Day in a region that has experienced a 14% increase in the number of HIV infections since 1999, the U.K.'s Northern Echo reports. Tim Holmes, health promotion specialist for Darlington and the Dales Primary Care Group, emphasized that HIV/AIDS "must remain within the public consciousness all year round and not just on Dec. 1" (Northern Echo, 11/28).
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