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Stop
the spread of HIV-Take action today
MS-Zimbabwe
(Danish Association for International Cooperation)
December 01, 2006
Around 39 500
000 people are living with HIV throughout the world, and the number
of new infections is increasing every day. Two third of all adults
and children with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa, with its epicentre
in Southern Africa. In Zimbabwe around 1 700 000 people are living
with HIV and close to 200 000 have already died due to Aids.
Yet it is a preventable disease!
We can
stop the spread of HIV - through action not silence!
Today is World Aids Day, 1 December where people worldwide unite
in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Let's all take this opportunity
to remind ourselves and others to take action and stop the spread
of HIV and prejudice. Here are some ideas to what you, I and we
can do!
It is up to you, me and us to challenge the stigma and prejudice
surrounding HIV and AIDS that prevents us from tackling the global
epidemic. It is up to you, me and us to challenge ignorant behaviour
and silence that cause more people to become victims to the virus.
Take action today - here are some things you can do:
Red Ribbon
Wear
a red ribbon on World AIDS Day and encourage others to help raise
awareness and challenge prejudice. The red ribbon has been an international
symbol of HIV for fifteen years and it is worn as a sign of support
for the 40 million people living with HIV worldwide. Wear it as
a sign of support, and encourage your colleagues, friends and family
to wear red ribbons as a simple way of saying that together we CAN
stop the spread of HIV and bring an end to stigma and prejudice.
Wearing a red ribbon is one of the easiest ways you can make a difference
on 1 December.
Break the
silence
Talking
openly about HIV to your friends, family, colleagues and others
is one of the most powerful ways of ending prejudice and preventing
the spread of HIV.
Since HIV was first identified a quarter of a century ago, it has
been a stigmatised disease, resulting in silence and denial. Every
day someone with HIV experiences discrimination at work, in healthcare
and among family and friends. Stigma discourages people from testing
for HIV or disclosing their status to their partner, which fuels
the spread of the disease. We can all play our part in breaking
the silence by talking openly and HIV and Aids, raising awareness,
supporting people living with the virus and fighting stigma and
discrimination.
You can
help to break the silence by:
- Putting up
posters and distributing leaflets at your workplace and community
centre
- Promoting an
internal HIV and Aids policy at your workplace
- Commemorating
World Aids Day on 1 December at your workplace and with friends
- Testing people’s
knowledge – ask your friends and colleagues if they know how many
people are living with HIV in Zimbabwe and how one can protect
him/herself?
- Telling your
story as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others
- Joining campaigns
for access to treatment and help prevent millions of deaths from
AIDS every year
- Fundraise for
programmes and activities that help to stop the spread of HIV
and provide support to those infected and affected
Let’s end silence
and prejudice and stop the spread of HIV -TAKE ACTION NOW!
Visit the MS-Zimbabwe
fact
sheet
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