To commemorate World Aids Day yesterday, the National Aids Council (NAC) organised a candlelight activity at the Savoy Resort and Spa for victims living with HIV/Aids and those who have died from the virus.

The theme for World Aids Day proclaimed by the United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids) is ‘End to Inequalities. End to Aids. End to Pandemic’.

The theme highlights the urgent need to end the inequalities that drive Aids and other pandemics around the world.

For the short commemoration ceremony, a big red candle placed in the lobby of the hotel was lighted by Fabina Belise, a counsellor with the Ministry of Education. This was followed by the lighting of other small candles which were later left floating in the small pool surrounding the hotel’s water fountain outside the main entrance to the lobby.

The small ceremony started with a blessing by Reverend Christine Benoit from the Anglican Church and also a NAC board member.

She asked for God’s help to an end to inequalities, end to HIV/ Aids and end to the pandemic. She urged everyone to look at each other with love in our hearts so that we get to work together to realise the end of the three ‘ends’ in God’s name.

Reverend Benoit said although the Covid-19 pandemic has taken centrestage this time around, it should not be taken as an excuse for us to forget and not to talk about HIV/Aids.

Her prayers for the people living with HIV/Aids and those who have died of the virus, was followed by a short address by Dr Anne Gabriel, the chief executive of NAC.

She gave a short overview of the appearance of the virus in the world in 1981 contracted by a forty-year-old doctor, followed by its appearance in the country in 1987 and of the first victim to die from the virus here in 1992.

She said that although all the talk is about the (Covid-19) pandemic, which is good as we have to work together to eliminate it, so is HIV/Aids.

She added that people should continue to talk about HIV/Aids and take the necessary measures to prevent catching the virus and to conduct regular tests, while those affected to continue with their medication to prevent the virus from spreading further.

She added that inequalities have further allowed the virus to spread as the people, especially the vulnerable groups, are continuously being stigmatised and with the arrival of the pandemic, they stay away from checking their status or even to retrieve their medications.

She further added that among inequalities also include the availability of treatment whereby the various vaccines for Covid-19 which are essential, were discovered and manufactured within weeks after the virus appeared, while a treatment for Aids, which is also a virus, has up to now not been discovered.

Dr Gabriel later said that from January to September 2021, the Ministry of Health recorded forty-nine new HIV cases (37 males, 12 females). She further said that nineteen people (16 males and 3 females) have died so far from Aids during that period and that is very alarming.

She explained that among the dead, three had Covid-19.

She stated that 19 people have died from Aids for a whole year in the past but not in a nine-month period.

She added that the number could increase given that the year has not ended.

She said that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the HIV/Aids services being offered.

Poet Stephanie Joubert and also a NAC counsellor recited a poem for the occasion, titled ‘Predater Envizib’ (Invisible Predator).

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the ceremony.

Source: Seychelles Nation