World unites to commemorate World Aids Day

By Alex Bell
01 December 2009

Dignitaries, political leaders, and even sports and films stars,, united on Tuesday for the global commemoration of World Aids Day.

The annual event was recognised worldwide under the theme “Universal Access and Human Rights.” In America, a number of cities decked out historical monuments in red lights while top performers, including Alicia Keyes, held concerts to support Aids Charities. In the UK singer Bono, from the band U2, joined up with top footballer Didier Drogba and other football stars to launch the “Lace Up. Save Lives,” campaign where proceeds from the sale of red laces go to help combat TB, Malaria and AIDS.

World class cricketers too added their voices to the global fight, calling on the international cricket community to continue to support calls for greater awareness to help continue the fight against HIV. South African cricket captain Graeme Smith, who is also a champion for the THINK WISE Aids awareness campaign, said: “I’ve seen firsthand the devastating effect that HIV has had in my country. It is now a global issue and one which everyone has a responsibility to address”

The head of the United Nations Aids programme (UNAIDS), Michel Sidibe, marked World Aids Day in South Africa, where the number of people infected is more than 5 million, the highest in the world. An estimated 1000 people in the country die from Aids related illnesses every day, a worrying example of the prevalence of the disease in Africa. In Zimbabwe, the picture is also bleak, with the country having the highest number of Aids orphans in the world, for a country of it’s size.

In December 2005, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS), adopted a resolution to assist African governments, civil society and NGOs in “scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of universal access to treatment by 2010 for all those who need it.” That deadline is now little more than a year away. In most of Africa’s developing countries, fallout from the global economic crisis has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the sustainability of treatment programmes, while prevention efforts are still struggling to keep up with the pace of the virus.

Meanwhile to mark the day, the United Nations Secretary General, the Executive Director of UNAIDS Secretariat and Heads of UNAIDS co-sponsors and partners spoke out in special World AIDS Day statements.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said: “On World AIDS Day this year, our challenge is clear: we must continue doing what works, but we must also do more, on an urgent basis, to uphold our commitment to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.”

UNAIDS head Sedibe said: “AIDS provides a powerful mechanism for creating integrated health, human rights and development programmes. We must take AIDS out of isolation and create a broad social movement that will accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goals.”

Even the Pope added his voice to the Global messages. Pope Benedict XVI said:

“My thoughts and my prayers go with every person who has been touched by this illness, particulary the children, the poor and the rejected. The Church does not cease to make every effort to combat AIDS through its institutions and personnel dedicated to this task. I urge all people to offer their own contributions through prayer and concrete attention, so that those affected by the HIV virus will experience the presence of the Lord who gives comfort and hope. In conclusion, I hope that, by multiplying and coordinating these efforts, it will be possible to stop and overcome this illness.”