AAU Organizes World AIDS Day
Addis Ababa University, organized World AIDS day 2019 themed “Communities make the difference” on 28th November, 2019 at Capital Hotel and spa.
The event aimed to recognize the essential role of the community on prevention and control of HIV/ AIDS.
Professor Tassew Woldehanna, President of AAU, on his message said, HIV/AIDS is one of the challenges of the overall development of the country and it is still a public health problem in Ethiopia.
“In order to overcome this problem Higher Educational institution has to play their roles. To this line, Addis Ababa University community promise to continue their energies in supporting on HIV/AIDS Controlling and prevention activities” He said.
Dr. Mengistu Gebremichael Country program manager of AHF Ethiopia noted in his welcoming speech AHF Ethiopia provides free HIV care services including Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), treatment of opportunistic infections, HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) and the likes.
He added that AHF Ethiopia persistently tries to improve its collaboration with partners and is planning to expand its services with other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Mr Abrham Gebre medhin Deputy Director General of FHAPCO on his side said the community has a power to overwhelm the problem and he appreciates the activities of Addis Ababa University.
He criticizes why Ministry of Science and Higher Education withdraw the structure of the office related to HIV in the ministry. Finally stressed high attention is needed from government and concerned bodies to avert the current increasing incidence of HIV.
H.E. Dr. Liya Tadesse, State Minister, Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) also participated in the event by her message, she emphasized that to overcome the problem we have to utilize the societies experience in preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS.
The session also featured by the panel discussion presented by Dr. Messele Mengisteab, College of social Sciences, AAU, Mr. Mekonnen Alemu Executive Director-NEP+ and Mr. Kifle Metiku HIV/AIDS Multispectral Response Directorate Director FHAPCO focused on the 2019 AIDS day theme “ Communities makes a difference”.
According to the panelists, for the past three decades Ethiopian Community organizations Such as Edir rather than facilitating funeral ceremony they were contributing a lot on the problem. According to Ato mekonnen, there are 470 HIV Community organizations in which people with HIV reside.
The panelists said those people with HIV/AIDS and more than 170 thousand people organized and work together on HIV prevention.
The panelists stressed on mobilization of communities what is urgently needed to address the barriers that stop communities Contributions on preventing HIV/AIDS.
The event was organized in collaboration with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Consortium of Reproductive Health Associations (CORHA Ethiopia) and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO).
By Tenagnework Mekonenn