The National AIDS Commission (NAC), National AIDS Control Program (NACP) and partners have released activities marking the commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day in Liberia.
A release issued Wednesday, 21 November says First Lady Clar M. Weah has been named as the keynote Speaker for the commemoration of the day which takes place on December 1, 2018.
According to the release, a number of activities have been listed to be executed from November 26-December 1, 2018.
The activities include awareness and HIV mobile testing on Monday, November 26 and 27, 2018, stakeholders’ meeting highlighting key population milestone interventions on HIV prevention in Brewerville, Logan Town Junction, Sinkor, ELWA Junction and Redlight respectively.
On Wednesday, 28 November, another awareness and HIV Mobile testing targeting youths and adults will be conducted at Congo Town Back Road Junction and Central Monrovia respectively to afford citizens to know their status.
The last HIV mobile testing will take place at the Thinkers Village and Bernard’s Beaches where residents, mostly young people will gather to celebrate President William V.S. Tubman Birthday on Thursday, November 29, 2018, the release says.
It adds that on Friday, 30 November, students of the Fendall Campus of the University of Liberia will benefit from a voluntary mobile HIV testing.
The activities will be climaxed on Saturday, 1 December at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium where local and international partners will gather to reflect on gains made over the years to mitigate the impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic on the population, and to suggest plans to achieving the global target for 90-90-90.
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The release continues that Liberia and the rest of the world are implementing a strategy in ensuring that by 2020, 90% of persons living with HIV will know their status, 90% of those tested positive will get on treatment and 90% of Persons living with HIV on treatment will have a suppressed viral load.
It is estimated that more than 40,000 persons in Liberia are living with HIV and general prevalence at 2.1. Key populations including sexual minority groups are said to be exposed to HIV infection and accounting for the highest proposition of the infection rate.
Observed on the 1st of December every year, World AIDS Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the HIV and AIDS pandemic; providing a platform to reflect on the achievements made in the national HIV response and to embrace with optimistic solidarity, people living with HIV.
World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988, and since then governments and officials from all sectors in their respective countries have committed themselves to observing the day with speeches, forums, community awareness and media campaign on global and national themes aimed at reaffirming their commitments.
The program will be observed on a global Theme: ““Know Your Status” and a National Theme: “Do Your HIV Test.”–Press release
