Liberia Celebrates AIDS Week
During the procession for the Candle Light Memorial Service held on Sunday, various categories of people affected by AIDS came forth to show their solidarity.
These are people affected by HIV/AIDS, who were determined to stop the scourge from causing further damage. They came forth openly announcing their status, and leading the calls for attention to this growing problem.
The word came forth from several speakers, on numerous occasions. The speakers represented various ideals and backgrounds, but the message was the same. This was also posted on the wall during the candle light service.
Since the first group of activists came forth in 2002, there have been numerous persons coming in to disclose their status. They have also formed numerous support groups, that are instrumental in giving guidance, and championing the struggle for improved medication and laws that will ensure that people living with AIDS are not discriminated against and stigmatized.
On show was the picture of Isaac, one of the several persons who have come forth to disclose his status. He lived the rest of his life speaking about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and urged a good many persons to check their status and accept the situation.
Unfortunately he succumbed when the colleagues least expected. But Isaac is just one of many.
A lead counselor in Liberia , Pate Chon identified an entire group – the Light Association. This was made up of people who initially agreed to come up and announce their status. Light is a powerful lobby group today, active in helping people to live peacefully regardless of their circumstances. Members of this group are programmers, arranging activities for their sustenance, making representations across Liberia and elsewhere. Because of Light, many persons have now come up, and are also helping to spread the message. Light is assisted by Concern Worldwide.
Also identified during the Week of Action is the Liberia Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN). This group's organization was aided by ActionAid to provide a forum for women affected and living with HIV/AIDS to stand up to life. LIWEN includes members from various communities across the country, and are working in every way to ensure that people come forth to disclose their status, and join the campaign for greater support for affected people.
The week will also include an outreach into high risk communities, including Slipway, West Point and SKD Community, a round table involving government officials and representatives of NGOs and development organizations and the community at large; as well as a parade, where a statement of concern will be presented to members of the Liberian legislature. There will also be publicity activities on various radio stations.
For the past two years during the Global AIDS Week of Action , activists have organized actions in over 30 countries to hold world leaders accountable on their landmark commitment to fight AIDS made at the United National General Assembly Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS) in 2001.
In 2005 world leaders made another historic promise on universal access, committing to: "developing and implementing a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of universal access to treatment by 2010."
According to ActionAid, “The world needs to honour this ambitious promise to stop the needless deaths of women, men and children. Our governments must meet their national targets for universal access to treatment prevention, care and support. Multinational drug companies must stop putting profits before people. Rich nations, including the G8, must back their warm words on AIDS with real funds.”
“The Global AIDS Week of Action is the defining mobilisation moment before world leaders report back to the UN on the progress they have made to meet their commitments on HIV and AIDS.”
The 2008 program in Liberia is being organized through a Memorandum of Understanding between ActionAid Liberia and Concern Worldwide, in collaboration with support groups of people affected by and living with HIV/AIDS.
The annual celebration of Global AIDS Week of Action has kicked off in Liberia with sustained calls for increased government commitment to support AIDS prevention efforts.
At a candle light procession and memorial service held on Sunday to kick off the week, various activists and participants noted that public support for people living with HIV/AIDS remains minimum, and said this could give rise to increases in the national prevalence rates, and threaten the future of the country.
But, in a special statement to launch the activities, Mrs. Pate Chon blamed poverty as a major chain in the care for HIV victims.
She said HIV finds a loop hole in the poverty of our people, and called upon all Liberians to fight if our children must survive
She then paid tribute to the heroes of Light Association, who were the pioneers in taking up the challenge to stand up and announce their HIV positive status.
Mrs. Chon, among the longest serving HIV/AIDS counselors in the country, challenged the government to provide allocation for drugs, care and support for those living with HIV/AIDS.
She noted that the HIV/AIDS situation in the country is dire, with 1682 persons receiving Anti RetroViral (ARV) treatment. She however added that all of them have full blown AIDS, and wondered how many others could be positive, but are yet to come up for treatment.
