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Intl. Non Governmental Organization
Health, Child Protection & Youth Development.
A
REPORT
ON THE MARKING OF
WORLD AIDS DAY 1st DECEMBER 2003.
At
CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
WARRI – DELTA STATE NIGERIA
PRODUCED BY LIBERTY 4 AFRICA.
The event target group during our World AIDS Day celebration was youths aged 15 – 49 years. With an average of 700 students and about 20 staff at Cambridge International School and 10 of Liberty 4 Africa (L4A) members.
It is important to note that youths of this age group are an important population to mobilize and educate since they are leaders of tomorrow and are most important for a sustainable future.
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EVENTS:
A two day event was chosen to celebrate this year’s World AIDS Day, 1st December, 2003, in the city of Warri, Delta – State. The HIV/AIDS awareness campaign commenced at 7.15am at the L4A office at #17 Eburu Street, Okumagba Avenue, Warri, before proceeding to
Cambridge International School. The program officially commenced immediately after the school finished their Morning Assembly. The event started with an opening prayer from Mr. David Akpotu (project co-
coordinator). This was followed by an introduction to Liberty 4
Africa from Mr. Aghogho Careca Akarue (CEO/founder) highlighting briefly the mission and aims of Liberty 4 Africa (L4A) and its role as a non profit organization. He explained its efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in the State and the past activities of the organization
such as its Global Youth Service Day 11th – 13th April 2003-where the organization organized a March for Peace, an AIDS awareness programme and a novelty football match. He also laid emphasis on the need of support in helping L4A achieve it aims and objectives in the fight against this
deadly disease from institutions, organizations, the public, governments and international organizations and other agencies.
And finally Mr. Akarue mentioned that
Cambridge International School is a fine example of a noble institution grounded in the principles of the social, economic and environment pillars of sustainable
development.
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Thirdly Mr. Mark Healy (Volunteer UK) gave a lecture on HIV/AIDS, when he
discussed the meaning of HIV/AIDS and how far AIDS has spread,
highlighting the situation in Nigeria. He spoke about its modes of
transmission and also preventative measures.
He also stated that AIDS is the worst epidemic
to hit mankind since the Middle Ages. Then
the Bubonic Plague killed around 30 million
people. Already, AIDS has claimed the lives of 28 million people around
the world – and there is still no cure.
He mentioned that in Nigeria, it is said that 1000 people die of AIDS every
day. That there are estimated to be 5 million people who have the HIV virus.
But only 100, 000 people have come out to say they are HIV positive. You
cannot tell if a person is infected just because they look well. So the
people who keep their HIV infection secret, or do not know that they are
infected are the people who are most likely to be spreading the virus.
The President Olusegun Obasanjo agrees with a United Nations report that
one Nigerian is infected with HIV every minute. At the moment Nigeria is
the fourth country in the world most hit by HIV. By 2010, it will be the
country with the highest number of people infected with HIV in the world –
when the youths who are 15 now are aged 22 – their country will be the
worst country for AIDS deaths in the world.
Only last week the Nigerian Minister of Finance Dr (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala said that one out of every four persons in Abuja was infected with
HIV. And as there is no cure – those people will eventually die.
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After the conclusion of the lecture, Miss Vivian O (Secretary) narrated a
short story on how two young students got involved in a sexual
relationship and at the end of the day they were both
infected by the virus and she went through a fell of
discrimination from friends and family members. Miss
Vivian urged the students to abstain from sex in order
to focus on their studies and to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS which would
destroy their future.
After which the students had opportunity to ask questions on HIV/AIDS and
the whole program in general. Permit me to quote one of the questions
from the senior girl prefect on the school, (Cynthiana Yalagh) is there is a
cure for AIDS and if there is will it increase immorality in the world? The
question was answered by Mr. Aghogho Careca Akarue (CEO/founder L4A)
saying there is no discovered cure for AIDS and that the best way to avoid
infection is to abstain from sex or delay sex…safe sex and when a cure for
HIV/AIDS is eventually found, immorality will have to be
curbed…that is why we are working with campaigns and
awareness for people to be educated…this is a medium of
education and help and we all have a role to play!
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A teacher of the school also asked a question, relating to what solution the
Federal Government of Nigeria is going offer to solve this deadly disease.
It is surprising to learn that they are doing little to fight AIDS in the country,
especially in the rural areas. Mr. Igharo .K the (Principal of Cambridge
International School) concluded the lecture with advice to the students to
take the lecture from Liberty 4 Africa
(L4A) very serious and also to pass on the
message to their love ones. The Principal
urged them to avoid sex till of full and
mature age.
Beyond this fact Mrs. Folaranmi G (Vice Principal of Cambridge
International School) gave motherly advice to the students by advising
them to abstain from sex and be more careful with other measures by
which they can contract HIV…like sharing of instruments among them
selves. Mr. Temi Odogu (National Co-coordinator) gave a vote of thanks to
the school acknowledging their efforts in making World AIDS Day event a
reality.
Finally the Vice Principal (Administration), gave the final remarks to the
school and thanked the group from Liberty 4 Africa for their time in
marking World AIDS Day in their noble institution and then led the closing
prayer.
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Group pictures were taken with the students and staff of the school. And
the event in the school was concluded.
Liberty 4 Africa (L4A) also went out on the street of Warri and distributes
HIV/AIDS flyers to individuals, businesses and other sectors in the city and
told them about the role they can play in the fight against AIDS. This
distribution also took place two days before World AIDS Day.
The distribution of flyers and meeting people in this way gave the Liberty 4
Africa representatives the opportunity also to discuss with individuals and
organizations the issues around of HIV/AIDS and how their support in
spreading this message would be of great help.
L4A wishes to remind all institutions and concerned individuals to organise
a World AIDS Day event in their area and encourages everyone to
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participate fully in supporting and understanding the fight against HIV/AIDS
worldwide.
Live and let live. Help us fight fear, shame, ignorance and injustice
worldwide.
Liberty 4 Africa…a beacon of hope!!