HIV and AIDS: Turning Remembrance Into Action on Candlelight Memorial Day
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'Stand in solidarity with those living with HIV and AIDS' was the main message of
Akhaltsikhe youth commemorating Candlelight Memorial Day in Georgia yesterday.
A march in the streets of Akhaltsike, a border town,was arranged by the World Vision 'SAFE! Guard Your Health' project. More than 40 peer educators walked from the World Vision office to the University building delivering messages via loudspeakers to people in the streets. Demonstrators handed leaflets to pedestrians, in the hope of raising awareness on the transmission of HIV.
'I see that people are interested in the information we are delivering to them. This is first time I am participating in such a parade and I feel that I am doing the right thing. Many people around me do not have enough information about this disease and the ways it is transmitted,' said Eka Dgebuadze, World Vision peer educator.
Akhaltsikhe, with its considerable number of migrating people has a comparably high transmission rate in the region. In rural areas people are poorly informed about transmission and the disease itself. The World Vision Youth Centre in this region is pro-active in promoting a safe and healthy way of life, holding informational campaigns on HIV and AIDS. The project is sponsored by BP and World Vision Canada.
The Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre states that the number of officially registered people living with HIV and AIDS in Georgia is 1263 for this year. The first HIV/AIDS case in Georgia was detected in 1989. For the past 5 years a slow but steady increase of the number of HIV/AIDS cases has been observed in Georgia. Experts state that the number of new infection cases of HIV has increased by 350 percent from 2000-2006 due to general lack of awareness and the mass public neglect to the threat, with most Georgians assuming that this threat is removed from Georgia.
'World Vision is the first organisation to begin informational campaigns in rural areas of Georgia. We are holding this kind of demonstrations for the 4th time. Every year we seek different ways of spreading information to the local population. The parade was very successful as lots of people showed their interest and joined the march,' said Tiko Suladze, Preventive Health & HIV Project Resource Coordinator.
In the evening young actors from Akhaltsikhe theatre performed the play 'Love Each Other' which promotes solidarity with those living with HIV and AIDS. Following the play, demonstrators lit candles creating an image of the AIDS Ribbon.
The Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre states that the number of officially registered people living with HIV and AIDS in Georgia is 1263 for the year 2007. The first HIV/AIDS case in Georgia was detected in 1989. For the past 5 years a slow but steady increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases has been observed in Georgia.
A march in the streets of Akhaltsike, a border town,was arranged by the World Vision 'SAFE! Guard Your Health' project. More than 40 peer educators walked from the World Vision office to the University building delivering messages via loudspeakers to people in the streets. Demonstrators handed leaflets to pedestrians, in the hope of raising awareness on the transmission of HIV.
'I see that people are interested in the information we are delivering to them. This is first time I am participating in such a parade and I feel that I am doing the right thing. Many people around me do not have enough information about this disease and the ways it is transmitted,' said Eka Dgebuadze, World Vision peer educator.
Akhaltsikhe, with its considerable number of migrating people has a comparably high transmission rate in the region. In rural areas people are poorly informed about transmission and the disease itself. The World Vision Youth Centre in this region is pro-active in promoting a safe and healthy way of life, holding informational campaigns on HIV and AIDS. The project is sponsored by BP and World Vision Canada.
The Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre states that the number of officially registered people living with HIV and AIDS in Georgia is 1263 for this year. The first HIV/AIDS case in Georgia was detected in 1989. For the past 5 years a slow but steady increase of the number of HIV/AIDS cases has been observed in Georgia. Experts state that the number of new infection cases of HIV has increased by 350 percent from 2000-2006 due to general lack of awareness and the mass public neglect to the threat, with most Georgians assuming that this threat is removed from Georgia.
'World Vision is the first organisation to begin informational campaigns in rural areas of Georgia. We are holding this kind of demonstrations for the 4th time. Every year we seek different ways of spreading information to the local population. The parade was very successful as lots of people showed their interest and joined the march,' said Tiko Suladze, Preventive Health & HIV Project Resource Coordinator.
In the evening young actors from Akhaltsikhe theatre performed the play 'Love Each Other' which promotes solidarity with those living with HIV and AIDS. Following the play, demonstrators lit candles creating an image of the AIDS Ribbon.
The Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre states that the number of officially registered people living with HIV and AIDS in Georgia is 1263 for the year 2007. The first HIV/AIDS case in Georgia was detected in 1989. For the past 5 years a slow but steady increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases has been observed in Georgia.
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