The Sunday News
Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya, Sunday News Correspondent
THE National Aids Council has started preparations for this year’s World Aids Day commemorations by lining-up a number of pre-events ahead of the main celebrations that will be held in Bulawayo in December.
Nac director monitoring and evaluation Mr Amon Mpofu, said the commemorations were coming to Bulawayo at the opportune time when the city’s prevalence rate is 21,78 percent while Matabeleland South’s is at 18,57 percent.
The national event will be held at White City Stadium under the theme “Close the tap for new HIV infections.”
Nac’s Bulawayo provincial Aids co-ordinator Ms Sinatra Nyathi said they had already set in motion different committees which are already mobilising people to attend the annual event.
“We are glad to be hosting the annual World Aids Day Commemorations this year. As a result we want to make the most out of it and create HIV awareness on a huge scale. As it is, we already have set committees that are mobilising people to attend the commemorations. Since its going to be a national event we are expecting close to 20 000 people,” said Ms Nyathi.
She added that having commemorations on 1 December was not going to be enough, hence the organisation has come up with events which are precursors to the main event.
“We can’t squeeze all the activities in one day. That’s why we have decided to hold pre-events for the main event. The first pre-event will be the Family Wellness Day, we expect all family members to come for screening of different ailments, like cervical cancer, breast cancer and blood pressure.
“Also we are going to hold the Musical HIV Prevention gala, where different musicians are going to perform, targeting the youth as we will also be creating awareness on HIV-related issues through music. Also we are going to have a role model day where different influential people will interact with the youths on sexual health issues,” she said.
World Aids Day which was first celebrated 28 years ago is held on 1 December, gives people worldwide a point of reflection and unite in a bid to fight against HIV and in the same time show support for people living with HIV.
The main purpose of World Aids Day is to show support and solidarity to millions of people living with HIV, thus wearing a red ribbon has over the years become an insignia to show solidarity and support in fighting HIV.
Last year the commemorations were held in Imbizo, Kwekwe.
