Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise

With the rest of the world, on December 1st Yemen will celebrate World AIDS Day. “Leadership” has been chosen by the World AIDS Campaign as the theme for World AIDS Day 2007 and 2008. This theme will continue to be promoted with the slogan “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”

“This year, the celebrations for World AIDS Day will include a number of events and activities to increase awareness about the fight against AIDS,” said Dr Abdul-Hamid al-Suhaibi, Director of the National Program for Combating HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 

There will also be a marathon for cyclists to mark this important day, in addition to the distribution of brochures to increase awareness about this disease and to encourage the community to address this serious epidemic, which poses a threat to all. Many musical and artistic activities will also be conducted to teach people to prevent infection by this disease and to reduce the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.

According to Dr. al-Suhaibi, the number of cases detected and officially registered by 2008 September had reached 2,493. However, experts believe that 20 cases go unreported for every case officially recorded. 

Dr. al-Suhaibi also showed that the number of HIV/AIDS cases has increased during the last five years, compared with just 151 cases recorded in 2002. The overall purpose of the World AIDS Campaign from 2005 to 2010 is to ensure that leaders and decision makers deliver on their promises concerning AIDS, including the provision of Universal Access to treatment, care, support and prevention services by 2010. Within that five-year mission, annual campaigning themes are selected which are timely, relevant and adaptable to a number of different regions and issues. AIDS is most commonly spread by sexual contact involving the exchange of bodily fluids, blood transfusions and by the sharing of infected needles. AIDS is now a pandemic, with an estimated 38.6 million people now living with the disease worldwide.As of January 2006, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS and the WHO estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in June 5, 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history.

Related Content

•  Yemen seniors create smile on worried faces
•  Health Minister: WHO allocates $ 11.5 mln for health care in Yemen
•  For some, winning isn't everything at worlds
•  First and only national meeting kicks off in Yemen on the occasion of the World Hepatitis Day
•  Yemen’s Al Tilal hold Indian Dempo to 2-2 draw
•  Yemen tennis star claims Asian title
•  Health workers play major role in preventing child mortality
•  Drug use in East and South-East Asia a growing problem
•  Recap of Yemen's environmental issues in 2008
•  World Aids Day celebrations call for urgent steps to deal with disease