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Georgians commemorate World AIDS Day

08 Dec 2006 10:44:12 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

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Stand in solidarity with those living with HIV and AIDS”, was the slogan for the World Vision Georgia information campaign, which consisted of a photo exhibition on HIV and AIDS, quizzes, videos and theatre performances.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

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Georgian youth and medical professionals joined forces on World Aids Day to send a message on HIV and AIDS transmission and preventative methods.

"Stand in solidarity with those living with HIV and AIDS', was the slogan for the World Vision Georgia information campaign, which consisted of a photo exhibition on HIV and AIDS, quizzes, videos and theatre performances highlighting the threats of the infection while also demonstrating goodwill and support towards those affected.

"This day made me realise that the threat is real for all of us, while our neglectful attitude can mean sacrificing our future generations," said 33-year-old Marina Bagoeva, teacher of the Marneuli state school that hosted young World Vision Georgia Peer educators to mark World AIDS Day with their counterparts.

"Bagoeva recalled how three or four years ago, only very few people could have any information about HIV and AIDS. She explained that the stigma that widely existed before was partly due to lack of information that ultimately contributed to people becoming infected as they lacked information on how to protect themselves.

'Now community and youth have started thinking differently,' said Bagoeva, calling World Vision trained peer educators "pioneers of change" in their communities.

The Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre states that the number of officially registered people living with HIV and AIDS in Georgia is 1,133 for the year of 2006; 233 of them died and 222 are undergoing treatment.

However, with increasing infection rates in Georgia, World Vision is concentrating its efforts on a health programme that aims to keep the infection at bay and nurture informed healthy communities. World Vision Youth Centres are also pro-active in promoting healthy way of life and holding informational campaigns on HIV and AIDS.

Funded by World Vision Canada, World Vision US and BP, World Vision Georgia health programme has operated for more than two years now and targets south Caucasus/Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipelines districts, surrounding communities, pipeline workers, sex workers, medical personnel, mass media representatives and youth to give them accurate information on the infection and prevention methods.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Fri Dec 8 11:07:35 2006