By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
Every year, on 1st December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS.
This was contained in a release signed and issued to newsmen in Sokoto by the spokesperson to the Initiative, Hajiya Aeesha Mains.
The release further said in 2020, the world’s attention has been focused by the COVID-19 pandemic on health and how pandemics affect lives and livelihoods. COVID-19 is showing once again how health is interlinked with other critical issues, such as reducing inequality, human rights, gender equality, social protection and economic growth. With this in mind, this year the theme of World AIDS Day is “GLOBAL SOLIDARITY, SHARED RESPONSIBILITY”.
Inline its commitment to create awareness on the disease especially among young people, who are most vulnerable to the disease, MMAWT Legacy Initiative took its campaign to community day secondary school and government girls day secondary school, Yabo.
On arrival, the advocacy team led by the Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Balbasatu Ibrahim met with the students who were sensitized on the disease by Dr Auwal Ahmad, who is also the Executive Director of Productive Youths Development Initiative.
Dr Auwal Ahmad, took time to educate the students on the importance of testing and counseling, signs and symptoms of the disease and the precautionary measures needed to guard against being infected with the disease.
In her Goodwill message to the students, Hajiya Maryam Mairo Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said “with a United Nations estimate of 690,000 people dying from AIDS-related illnesses in the past year, it has become imperative for all hands to be on deck in the global fight against the disease”.
The Wife of the Governor further said, COVID-19 has demonstrated that, during a pandemic, no one is safe until everyone is safe.
Leaving people behind is not an option if we are to succeed. Eliminating stigma and discrimination, putting people at the centre and grounding our responses in human rights and gender-responsive approaches are key to ending the HIV pandemic.
Highlight of the event was the distribution Exercise Books, School Bags, Sandals, Writing materials and COVID-19 prevention essentials to the students in continuation of the foundation’s back to school support programme.
The Advocacy team includes, The special adviser to the Governor on Female Education, Hajiya Aisha Maina, Permanent secretary ministry of social welfare, Hajiya Hauwa’u Abubakar, DG SOSMEDA, Hajiya Aishatu Hassan Turai, Hajiya Laraba Dattijo, Hajiya Suwaiba Haruna, Hajiya Ummu Abubakar and Hajiya Hassana Dangaskiya, members of the Youth Vanguard, and other associates of the foundation.
