Every year, the 1st of December is observed as World AIDS Day with the aim to raise awareness and unite people worldwide in the fight against the global issue of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
This year’s theme, “Putting ourselves to the test: Achieving equity to end HIV,” calls for leaders around the globe and citizens to recognize and address the inequalities, which are holding back progress in ending AIDS, and promoting equal access to HIV services. As a member of the Iligan City AIDS Council (ICAC), LGOO Villebette Sato, represented the office to deliver the department’s message of support. The celebration kicked off with a motorcade around the city and concluded with a program attended by various stakeholders at the Iligan City Plaza.
βTo beat AIDS and build resilience against the pandemics of tomorrow, we need collective action. That includes harnessing the leadership of communities to drive change, combating stigma, and ensuring that people are at the center of policy-making, and implementation,β said Sato in her message.
She also highlighted the urgency to integrate all possible responses needed for COVID-19 and to maintain commitments to make measurable progress not only to maintain gains in HIV treatment and prevention but to end the HIV epidemic. (ππππ πππͺπ¨π’π― | π. ππ’π°π±π’π―)
