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AIDS Day Is Observed Around the Globe

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  • AIDS Day Is Observed Around the Globe

    AIDS Day Is Observed Around the Globe

    By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS
    .c The Associated Press


    GENEVA (AP) - From Armenia to Zambia activists turned out by the thousands
    for World AIDS Day on Wednesday, singing in mighty cathedrals, lighting
    candles in city squares and playing sports.

    The United Nations has dedicated this year's observance to improving
    protection for women and girls. Nearly half of the 39.4 million people infected with
    HIV worldwide are female.

    ``Prevention methods such as the ABC approach - Abstinence, Be faithful and
    use Condoms - are good, but not enough to protect women where gender
    inequality is pervasive,'' said Peter Piot, head of UNAIDS.

    ``We must be able to ensure that women can choose marriage, to decide when
    and with whom they have sex and to successfully negotiate condom use,'' Piot
    added.

    As the day began in Asia, where the disease has claimed 540,000 lives this
    year, campaigners in Japan and South Korea handed out condoms. Thailand,
    Vietnam, and Bangladesh had marches, and the Philippines a promotion for HIV
    testing.

    The Chinese government ordered local officials to learn about the disease
    and televised a rare visit by President Hu Jintao to AIDS patients in a
    hospital.

    China, which has an estimated 840,000 infected with the AIDS virus, has been
    criticized for reacting too slowly to the threat of AIDS. The U.N. AIDS
    agency has warned that China could have as many as 10 million people infected by
    2010 if it doesn't take urgent action.

    An Indian cricket match against South Africa, whose players wore red ribbons
    to show their support for the anti-AIDS campaign, was dedicated to promoting
    AIDS awareness.

    In Pakistan, about 400 aid workers discussed how to empower women in a
    region where men usually have a dominant role in society.

    At the forefront of the pandemic in southern Africa red ribbons were tied to
    lamp posts and draped over buildings. Zambians gathered for a candlelight
    memorial service in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the capital, Lusaka.

    Soccer matches in Botswana were dedicated to the campaign.

    Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of South Africa appealed for
    tolerance.

    ``HIV/AIDS is not God's punishment of the wicked,'' Ndungane told a rally in
    Cape Town. ``AIDS is a preventable, treatable and manageable disease - no
    more, no less.''

    Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika said he wants at least 1 million of
    his 11 million people to test for HIV by the end of next year so his government
    can determine how many need anti-retroviral treatment.

    ``We want to have 80,000 people on ARVs by the end of 2005,'' he said at an
    event in the central border district of Nchinji. That would be nearly 10
    times the number of Malawians receiving free treatment.

    Eastern Europe, where AIDS figures have jumped since the collapse of the
    Soviet Union, joined in the observance. Events in Armenia included a concert
    with well-known local artists.

    Serbia-Montenegro, where the number of infected people has risen sharply,
    had live radio and television programs to increase awareness of how the disease
    spreads.

    In the Croatian capital of Zagreb activists handed out condoms and selling
    Christmas cards made by AIDS-infected children.

    In Estonia, where 4,356 of the 1.4 million residents are HIV positive, the
    biggest event was an ``Open Your Eyes'' concert in the Kaarli Church, in the
    capital, Tallinn.

    Polish campaigners were out to halt the trend of growing infections. In the
    northern city of Sopot they lit red candles in the shape of a ribbon, and in
    nearby Gdansk they distributed condoms.

    Portugal, which has one of the highest rates of new AIDS infections in
    western Europe, opened the new headquarters of an association to support AIDS
    patients.

    A televised five-hour dance-a-thon, which was held simultaneously in the
    Dutch city of Arnhem and in Cape Town, South Africa, raised money to fight AIDS.

    One candle was lighted for each of the 1,800 people who have died of AIDS in
    Denmark during a ceremony in a Copenhagen square.

    Victor Mooney, 40, of Woodhaven, N.Y., kicked off a campaign in Rome to
    raise $200,000 by selling bracelets to fund his rowing trip from Senegal to New
    York next year to raise AIDS awareness.

    Piot took his message about improving the chances of women to the United
    Nations' commemorative event at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York
    City. Hosted by actors Gloria Reuben and Alan Cumming, the event featured
    singer Mary Wilson and South Africa's Sinikithemba Choir.

    Piot said laws must be passed everywhere against domestic abuse and rape and
    to make sure women are educated and have property rights because that will
    make them more secure and ``far less vulnerable to HIV.''

    ``We will not be able to stop this epidemic unless we put women at the heart
    of the response to AIDS.''

    On the Net:

    UNAIDS: www.unaids.org/wac2004/national.htm



    12/01/04 11:08 EST
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