Marching and modelling on World AIDS Day in Mozambique
18 December 2006
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Mozambique organised a number of activities to mark World AIDS Day 2006.
Marching against HIV
On World AIDS Day, 1 December, Alliance staff members joined Beira citizens, school students, non-governmental, government, community- and faith-based organisations, in a two-hour march to show solidarity in the face of HIV and AIDS. The march takes place on World AIDS Day each year, and culminated in speeches by those involved.
Photo exhibition – the children left behind
‘The children left behind’, a photo exhibition organised by Alliance Mozambique, included a series of photographs of AIDS orphans taken by international photographer Gideon Mendel, along with photos taken by Alliance Mozambique during field work with partners.
Individuals and representatives from government and non-governmental organisations attended the exhibition, which was inaugurated by the country director of the Alliance in Mozambique, Christopher Pupp, who spoke about the HIV situation in Mozambique and the work of the Alliance, in particular with orphans and vulnerable children.
The exhibition ran from 30 November to 8 December, with support from the Portuguese High Commission who offered the use of their cultural centre for the event.
The UK’s Guardian newspaper has also featured Gideon Mendel’s photographs from Mozambique, which can be viewed on the Guardian website.
Modelling show for positive people
On 2 December, the Alliance in Mozambique supported RENSIDA, the national network of associations of people with HIV, in a model show for HIV positive people.
About 40 HIV positive men and women modelled in the show to demonstrate the importance of HIV testing and antiretroviral treatment. Many of the participants had been very ill and lost hope, but had significantly improved since taking antiretrovirals. Alliance Mozambique Country Director Christopher Pupp was the guest of honour at the event, where he spoke about the importance of antiretroviral treatment and the need for clear policies on the matter in Mozambique.
