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Report of the 2007 International
AIDS Candlelight Memorial in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
In 2007,
AFRYDEF collaborated with the Imo State Youths Forum against AIDS, Alpha
Charity Health Care Services, CD-COPA, the Soulwinners International
Churches and organized the 2007
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
The event was proudly sponsored by the Action AID
International, Imo State Orientation Agency and Coca Cola PLC.
Her Excellency, Lady (Dr.) Ada Okwuonu, the Deputy
Governor of Imo State was the Special Guest of Honour at the event,
which was held at the Soulwinners International Churches Auditorium, Works
Lay Out, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
In her speech, Lady Ada Okwuonu said that the time for
the denial of the epidemic has gone as
“everyone of us seated here today has
at one time or the other lost somebody to AIDS. As the Deputy Governor of Imo
State, I will endeavor to use my office to
influence Government funding and responses to the epidemic”.
Other prominent political leaders and civil society actors in the
state like Sir Angus Oguike, Director General of Imo Orientation Agency, Dr.
Phil Oshieze Ehirim, Executive Director of Alpha Charity Health Care, Rev.
Dr. Nelson Nnannah, Bishop of Soulwinners International Churches, Uche
Wisdom Durueke, President, CD-COPA lent their support to AFRYDEF’s fight
against the further spread of HIV among young people in Imo State and
Nigeria at large.
Dramas and songs were used to capture the negative
effects of shame, stigma and discrimination in preventing the spread of the
epidemic among youths.
The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is a programme of the Global
Health Council. If you want to be a local Candlelight Coordinator, please,
log on to www.globalhealth.org or
www.candlelightmemorial.org
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