Malawi Chosen to launch Global HIV/AIDS Memorial

The Global Health Council has chosen Malawi as the site of the Opening Ceremony to officially commemorate the launch of the worldwide 25th Anniversary Candlelight Memorial on 18 May 2008. The Council will be collaborating with the Malawi Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MANET+) for the ceremony, which will include lighting of the official candle. The theme for this year is “Never Give Up, Never Forget.” The launch is an honour for the tiny African country, focusing global attention on the nation, and providing an opportunity for recognising, sharing, and learning from worldwide experiences in HIV/AIDS work. The lighting of the candle in Lilongwe will kick off memorial programmes around the world.

According to Mary Shawa, Principal Secretary for the Office of the President and Cabinet responsible for HIV /AIDS and Nutrition, women are at the forefront of coping with HIV and AIDS, with a large number of women-led coalitions, organisations, and support groups across the country championing the cause.  She pointed to the event as a way to strengthen these initiatives. "Malawian women will share experiences and form net works during the event with other international delegates," said Shawa at a 1 April press briefing in Lilongwe. In some African countries, three quarters of those living with HIV are women - many of whom have not had more than one sexual partner. More than one in five pregnant women in six African countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe) is living with HIV/AIDS.

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