The total number of people estimated to be living with HIV ranges from 7,224 to 12,635 according to UNAIDS/WHO 2007.

The campaign which commenced on November 28^th and concluded on December 18 had two main objectives:

• Advocate among decision makers and especially health professionals for improved access to quality care, support, and treatment for People living with HIV.
• Highlight individual action at the community level related to HIV response including prevention, accessing services and combating stigma and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS.

The following activities and related outcomes are highlighted:

The Youth Mobilization Day, November 28, 2008: Over 500 youth from different ages, backgrounds, and communities actively participate in this event. Through a variety of activities including Art Workshops (do it with wire, paint your own t-shirt, make a kite and fly away),  the “I can stop AIDS” awareness tunnel, Wish tree, Tug of War, Mural wall, and  a Concert by the band Iskenderella ,the day aimed to sensitize youth and raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. It also tackled humanizing HIV, by displaying a documentary portraying the problems and hardships that PLHIV encounter.

Health Administrators Forum, December 15, 2008: under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Population, the event brought together hospital administrators from public and private hospitals, the Medical syndicate, and the Health Insurance Organization. The aim of the workshop was to discuss difficulties in accessing health care for PLHIV, promote equitable access to health care and implementation of infection control measures. The forum clarified many misconceptions especially related to understanding the regulations and policies governing treatment of people living with HIV.  The forum emphasized the legal responsibilities of doctors to treat all patients, without any form of discrimination. The discussion clarified that there is a need to articulate, disseminate and enforce a clear policy statement to all hospitals in Egypt, on the rights PLHIV to care, support, and treatment.

National Conference for Enhancing Medical Education related to HIV and AIDS, December 18^th, 2008 under the auspices of H.E. the Minister of Higher Education and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population conference was held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The forum was preceded by a high level meeting with deans from all medical schools in Egypt, the medical Sector committee and the Ministry of Health and resulted in a commitment on behalf of the deans to further improve and enhance HIV and AIDS education in the medical school curriculum and promote education on infection control within health acre settings.  The forum was attended by professors of Microbiology, Public Health, Clinical Medicine, and Pharmacology; each of these departments outlined a set of recommendations for addressing HIV and AIDS. A working group will be set up to impellent those recommendations.

Radio Spots promoting the hotline service, clarifying facts related to confidentiality, counselling, testing, treatment etc. The radio spots communicated by GWA Khaled Abol Naga and Ms. Nelly Karim were aired frequently on Negoum FM from December 1^st through December 11^th.

World AIDS Campaign is supported by: National AIDS Program/MOHP, UNAIDS (UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNODC), CARE, CRS, Coca Cola Company, NAMRU-3, Youth Groups (IFMSA, Y-Peer, GYP, Scouts), and ENNAA.

The commemoration was attended by representatives of UN agencies (UNAIDS, UNESCO UNFPA, UNICEF and UNODC), members of the Minister of Health and Population/National AIDS Programme (Dr. Zein El Taher), Goodwill Ambassadors Khaled Abol Naga and AmrWaked and NGOs (the Egyptian Network on NGOs Against AIDS, CHL and Better Life). The UN, Canadian International Development Agency, the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and Shell financially supported the organization of the event.

In the morning of December 1st, after a march to raise general populations’ awareness on the issues of HIV/AIDS, about 500 youths (16-20 years old) from Minya and its surroundings gathered in the city’s stadium for the opening of the commemorations. The stadium had been previously decorated with banners and flags of various sizes with slogans and information on HIV/AIDS and the best way to respond in Egypt.

The participants received hand-made bags and materials on HIVAIDS: t-shirts, caps, Red Ribbons, pocket calendars and documents on the epidemic. All the material bore the slogan of the 2007 World AIDS Campaign in Egypt: “Positive Life=Positive Actions in responding to HIV/AIDS”

The camp was lead by three youth-led associations conducting training sessions on HIV/AIDS designed in collaboration with UNAIDS. youth leaders used interative methods as role-play to communicate information around basic facts on HIV/AIDS, transmissions and prevention methods, services available in Egypt and measures to fight HIV related stigma towards people infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS

“Young people have the power to lead the fight against AIDS if they are given the right tools and trust to do it. All countries in the World are at risk of HIV. Egypt has a chance today to curb that spread so we should use it well” said Dr. Wessam El Beih, UNAIDS Country Officer. Goodwill Ambassadors Mr Waked and Mr Abol Naga, with improvised a much-appreciated sketch on the importance of using the toll-free HOTLINE on HIV/AIDS (08007008000) to get correct information on the epidemic. One of the Youth lead Groups, Dance4Life involved the public in a Drill calling for “responsible life and responsible choice” to fight HIV/AIDS), while the Federation of Medical Students presented a song done for the World AIDS Campaign and stressing the importance of fighting stigma and discrimination. Moreover, the Master of Ceremonies Mr. Ayman Kaysoni staged a live Quiz on the epidemic with prizes offered to the particpants.

A live concert by the famous band Habayebna and a DJ set closed the commemoration.

The commemoration of the WAD was part of the World AIDS Campaign (WAC) carried out by the Expanded Theme Group on HIV/AIDS in Upper Egypt. Stands for distribution of informative material and for awareness-raising were set up in Aswan, Luxor, Qena, Souhag, and Assiut during the stops of the UN-led Sailing the Nile for the MDG.

The WAC will continue for the whole December with the following: an awareness whole day event in Alexandria City Stars mall on Friday Dec. 8th an event at the British University in Egypt (Dec. 9th); a National Conference on HIV/AIDS and the role of young medical students (Kasr el Ainy Medical School, Dec. 13th); a Charity Walk against stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV/AIDS (Cairo, Dec. 15th); and a Creative Art Competition for journalists, writers and artists.

The WAC is a world wide campaign to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS and call for collective response to the epidemic. In Egypt, 2007 Campaign, it aims to:

-Tackle stigma and discrimination against people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS

-Raise the perception of risk among the general population through the promotion of the HOTLINE, the Volunteer Confidential Counseling and Testing Centers and the other HIV-related services offered by governmental and non-governmental institutions

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Wessam El Beih (UNAIDS Country Officer), elbeihw@unaids.org ,Tel. +20 10 366 2440

Umberto Bernardo (UNAIDS Technical Officer/UN Volunteer) bernardou@unaids.org,Tel +20 16 393 1628

Source: Sailing The Nile

This year, the World AIDS Day in Egypt will be organized around the slogan “Positive Life=Positive Actions in responding to HIV/AIDS” and will aim to:

• Tackle stigma and discrimination against people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
• Raise the perception of risk among the general population through the promotion of the HOTLINE, the Volunteer Confidential Counseling and Testing Centers and the other HIV-related services offered by governmental and non-governmental institutions

The commemoration will start with a march to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and promote the use of the HOTLINE on HIV/AIDS (0 800 700 8000). 500 youth will participate in the march and will then engage in 6 hours of training sessions on HIV/AIDS, entertainment and music all done by youth and for youth in the Menia stadium. The event will be closed by a live concert of with Haytham Saeid and the band Habayebna. Goodwill Ambassadors Khaled Abol Naga and Amr Waked will participate in the event.

Your participation and the coverage of the events would be of the utmost importance as general awareness of HIV/AIDS among the population is the core element in any effective response to the epidemic.

For further information kindly call Mr. Walid Mansour at +2010 660 9060