AIDS candlelight memorial set may 21
The 24th annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial will be observed here Monday, May 21, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the Capitol Grounds, Iloilo City.
The activity aims to remember those who have died of AIDS, said Ms. Charity Perea, Regional STI/HIV Coordinator of DOH VI, who emphasized that the activity likewise acts as a catalyst for communities around the world to begin talking about HIV/AIDS in their community.
The other of objectives of the activity are, to show support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAS), to raise community awareness and decrease stigma related to HIV/AIDS and to mobilize community involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Perea said that as of April 2007, Western Visayas has 47 PLWHAs. Of this number, 17 have already died for not seeking proper treatment.
The regional STI/HIV coordinator said that, while only few here have been verified to be affected with AIDS, there are concerns that there are still several PLWHAs that are too scared or embarrassed to come out and seek proper treatment.
"We hope that through the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, we can encourage PLWHAs to come out so that the government and other civic organizations can extend necessary assistance.
On Monday (May 21), a press conference will be conducted with the local media at 3:00 p.m., at the ground floor of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Program will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Capitol grounds with the theme "Leading the way to a World Without AIDS."
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that AIDS is threatening children and young people. WHO estimated that children under 15 years old account for one in six global AIDS-related deaths and one in seven new global HIV infections. WHO said that a child under 15 dies of an AIDS-related illness every minute of every day, and a young person aged 15-24 contracts HIV every 15 seconds.
(T.Villavert/PIA)