Hamu Celebrates World HIV/ AIDS Day
Ethiopian Civil Service University HIV/AIDS Management Unit celebrated world AIDS day on December 5, 2014 at Kotebe campus of the University by different activities.
In his welcoming speech Ato Anteneh Mekonnen, consultant at HIV/ AIDS Management Unit, said that a lot of activities have been done in our country to minimize and control transmission of HIV /AIDS. For this cause, ESCU plays key role by coordinating efforts in the combat against the disease, conducting researches, training, and consultancy services on HIV /AIDS. Anteneh added ‘World AIDS day’ is a day we celebrate by different activities -to control and prevent HIV AIDS.
In the occasion, W/rt. Wubalem Arefaine, head of HIV/AIDS Management Unit read the message of the University president, Dr.Hailemicheal Abera to the audience.
Dr. Feysa, MOE, Higher Education Institutions HIV/AIDS Prevention Control Office expert gave a Presentation on the transmission and prevention methods of HIV /AIDS . He stated that in 20013, 35 million people were living with HIV, 2.1 million people were newly infected with virus - most of the new infected are from sub-Saharan African countries and some 1.5 million people died of HIV/ AIDS. So HIV/AIDS is not only a country’s issues, it is a worldwide issues.
Wro. Abay Akmachew, head of Center for Gender and Development of the ECSU gave some explanation on white ribbon day. She said a white ribbon day is a day to stop gender –based violence. So men put the white ribbon on their chest and promised to engage themselves in tackling violence against women.
Everyone should know about HIV/AIDS. If we get access to treatment and care, we can live like anyone who is free from HIV/AIDS said one of the guests who live with HIV/AIDS. In addition to this, she shared her real life experience for the participants on the occasion.
Students and workers of the University participated in question and answer and poem contest held in world AIDS day - and all the questions and the poem are related to HIV/ AIDS. At the end of the program prizes are given for the winners of each contest.
The WORLD AIDS day celebrates on different theme in each year and this year theme is “focus, partner, achieve: an AIDS free Generation,”