1st December every year is set by the United System(UN) and the world at large to focus on global awareness of the pandemic and generate positive action to stop the spread of HIV and eradicate AIDS.
rest of the world to commemorate the day at the Buffer Zone in Tallinding. The global theme for this year's celebration is " Universal Access and Human Rights".
The day is important in remaindering people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done by governments, organisations and individuals.
Speaking at the commemoration, Minister of Health and Social Welfare,Dr. Babucarr Gaye on behalf President Jammeh, said that the day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education about the epidemic worldwide.
The government of The Gambia, " is acting on her promise at the 2006 United Nations High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS,to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010". He explained.
According Gaye, HIV has reduced life expectancy by more than 20 years, slow economic growth, and deepened household poverty noting that in the Sub- Saharan Africa alone, the epidemic has orphaned nearly 12 million children aged less than 18 years. He disclosed.
Minister Gaye pointed out that, the government will continued to support the leadership role of People Living With HIV/AIDS by fully recognising their values and involvement.
He called on families, communities, institutions and as a nation to ensure that they all demonstrate their proactive role to collectively reverse the epidemic curve of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country.
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