The Davao City AIDS Council will be celebrating World AIDS Day on December 1 with a series of activities centered on combating stigma and raising awareness on HIV.
Members of the city’s AIDS Council said during the ISpeak Media Forum on Thursday that with the increasing number of HIV cases in the city, it is imperative to heighten the awareness on HIV and the HIV programs of the city.
“Increasing gihapon atoang cases mao na nga dapat magseryoso gyud ta pagtubag sa programa sa HIV kay pananglitan sa month of May lang daan, ang latest nga data sa Davao City is muabot na siya og 4513 ka mga tao nga infected sa HIV (Latest data from May shows that there are 4513 HIV-infected individuals in Davao City. The number of cases is still increasing, thus, it is important that we properly implement the programs on HIV),” Michael Mahinay, Executive Director of ALAGAD-Mindanao, said.
This year’s celebration has the theme “Let Communities Lead.”
According to Oscar Obenza Jr, Chairperson of Olympus Society of Davao Inc. and organizer of the activities for the celebration, at 9 AM on December 1, there will be an HIV testing in the PLEB Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Building.
This activity aims to eliminate the stigma in the community on HIV testing. Obenza said that city councilors will be participating in the activity.
In the afternoon, starting at 3 PM, there will be a parade, a Red March, to be led by members of the Davao City AIDS Council. 70 organizations from the LGBT coalition already confirmed their participation in the parade.
“So promotion na siya, public advocacy and public statement nga daghan ta og mga advocates na nagalaban para sa issue sa HIV and AIDS ug dili lang atoang pang-gobyerno ang solid and committed ana.Naga-advocate pud mi nga mas mudaghan pa ang mga tao nga musuporta sa pagsugpo sa HIV and AIDS diri sa Davao City (It is a promotion, a public advocacy and public statement, that it isn’t only the government who’s committed to fight HIV and AID. We are also advocating for more people to join and support the fight to eliminate HIV and AIDS in the city),” he said.
There will also be a World AIDS Day program. However, Obenza stated that the venue for the event is still being finalized.
During the program, there will be a dance competition to showcase the talents of the youth, the LGBT, and all sectors. The performances must have elements of the HIV and AIDS campaign.
Interested participants may coordinate with the Olympus Society of Davao Inc.
Manuel Velasco, Executive Director of DAWAW MAAI, also mentioned that part of the program is focused on lobbying and advocating for social protection of persons living with HIV, and the level of awareness and acceptance, eliminating the stigma and discrimination on HIV in Davao City.
The Davao City AIDS Council invited Dabawenyos to participate in their activities during the celebration. CIO
