World AIDS Day 2008
Worldwide,
12/1/2008
December 1 is World AIDS Day — a day to commit ourselves to creating a generation free from HIV. This year is particularly poignant: 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, and the Foundation will commemorate its own 20th anniversary in 2009.
The Foundation was involved in a variety of World AIDS Day activities, including a special promotion on Yahoo! featuring a video about Foundation Ambassador Florence Ngobeni.
Read about our World AIDS Day activities.
This year's World AIDS Day theme is leadership, and we must lead the way toward a generation free of HIV. There are many things you can do to help:
Now is the time to act...because every child deserves a lifetime.
World AIDS Day Activities
United States
Read the blog that Foundation President and CEO Pam Barnes wrote for the Huffington Post about the importance of leadership in the fight against pediatric AIDS.
Listen to a World AIDS Day interview with Barnes on National Public Radio.
Read Barnes’ editorial about the need for strengthened global prevention and treatment efforts, printed in the Boulder Daily Camera and other publications.
Read the editorial precipitated by Barnes’ meeting with the Dallas Morning News.
Tanzania
Listen to Dr. Denis Tindyebwa discuss the need for increased pediatric HIV treatment in an interview with Voice of America.
In Tanzania, the Foundation participated in the national World AIDS Day event in Tanzania's Kigoma region. The Foundation hosted a stall displaying maps and descriptions of its work around the country. President Kikwete spoke at the event.
Uganda
The Foundation team in Uganda participated in a World AIDS Day event at Bukulula Health Centre, a Foundation-supported facility in Masaka that has just been refurbished by Abbott, a Foundation partner in Uganda.
The Foundation also sponsored a team of 10 runners in the 10-kilometer portion of the MTN Kampala Marathon on November 22, to raise awareness of pediatric AIDS.
Lesotho
The Foundation's Lesotho team participated in the national World AIDS Day event, which took place in Qacha's Nek district, the most remote and mountainous district in Lesotho. A Foundation officer was available throughout the day to speak to the public about the importance of HIV testing and distribute hats, T-shirts, and brochures.
Mozambique
World AIDS Day activities in Mozambique took place throughout the week of November 24 through December 1. The Foundation's activities included meeting with religious and community leaders about HIV/AIDS issues, conducting community-based HIV counseling and testing, and hosting community debates and educational sessions about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the health of HIV-infected and -affected children.
Rwanda
The Rwanda team participated in World AIDS Day activities throughout the month of November. A campaign to encourage couples to get tested for HIV began on October 30 and took place every Saturday for six weeks.
The Foundation also participated in the National Pediatric Conference in Rwanda from November 19 through 21.
Zambia
The Zambia team participated in the launch of Child Health Week, which took place just before World AIDS Day from November 24 to 28. For Child Health Week, the Foundation produced and distributed brochures and posters urging families to get their children tested for HIV, and encouraging early HIV treatment for children.