HAP (SIRC)- Solomon Islands Red Cross will join the rest of the world to celebrate the annual World AIDS Day which falls on December 1, 2007. However, the Red Cross will celebrate it later in December 2007.
According to Isaiah Tukuvaka, SIRC Health Promotion officer, the organization decides to delay the celebration because it will take place in Auki. He will leave for Auki on Monday 3rd of December 2007. And the rest of the team from the SIRC headquarters will leave to Auki on December 4 via Express Pelican to participate in the three days celebration.
The celebration will be based on the international AIDS Day's theme for 2007 'Leadership' with a slogan 'Take the lead, stop AIDS. Keep the Promise'.
Aims of the celebration are to honor those who have died of AIDS. Some have died a lonely death because of Stigma and discrimation, and that will be a time the Red Cross will request the dignity of those living and died of HIV/AIDS must be maintained. Also it will be a time to campaign for people to be responsible about their lives and be aware of this killer-HIV/AIDS.
The SI Red Cross Dissemination officer (Niniu Oligao) also said, "HIV/AIDS can no longer be swept under carpet, but we must change our mindset and openly discuss it to save our people because it's right here in the Solomon Islands".
The World AIDS Day celebration in Auki will include HIV/AIDS awareness talks, video shows, and Red Cross fund raising. The public in and around Auki are asked to take part in this 3 days event.
And the preparation for the event is underway at Auki and the National office.
