ERCS Celebrates World AIDS Day

ERCS Celebrates World AIDS Day By Tizazu Wodaje The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) celebrated the World AIDS Day on December 1, 2014 at the ERCS Headquarters in the presence of staff members of the Society. The 2014 World AIDS Day was celebrated under the theme of Zero New HIV infection. While reading out the message of the Secretary General of ERCS, Ato Mohammed Dada, Head of Disaster Preparedness and Response Department at the ERCS noted that the concerted effort of various institutions had pushed down HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country quoting the UN 2014 report. He reported quoting HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office at the FDRE Ministry of Health that the number of people who live with the virus is 800,000 which is less than the figure reported in 2011. HIV/AIDS prevalence in Ethiopia is below 1.5 percent which is less than 6.1precent, 2 percent and 5.1 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania respectively. The UNAIDS Report in 2013 shows that there are 35 million people who live with HIV/ADIS, Ato Mohammed said. He also indicated the various activities that ERCS has undertaken under HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support services. ERCS Addis Ababa Branch Youth volunteers performed a short play which reflected the event. A woman and a man who live with virus shared their experience with the audience. They also thanked ERCS for the support it provided to them.