..:: STOP AIDS, KEEP THE PROMISE ::..

..:: MAN NIGERIA ::..
Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise

World Aids Day is a global event organized by the World Aids Campaign. In 2007 and 2008 the theme for World AIDS Day "leadership", a theme which is being promoted with the slogan, "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise."As an example to national leaders and decision makers, individuals are asked to pledge their leadership and commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS by making their own pledge. We hope all MAN NIGERIA users will support this action and take the pledge. You can do this online by clicking the link under this logo:Make your pledge here.Why the theme of leadership?Since the beginning of the epidemic, experience has clearly demonstrated that significant advances in the response to HIV have been achieved when there is strong and committed leadership. Leaders are distinguished by their action, innovation and vision; their personal example and engagement of others; and their perseverance in the face of obstacles and challenges. However, leaders are often not those in the highest offices. Leadership must be demonstrated at every level to get ahead of the disease - in families, in communities, in countries and internationally.Much of the best leadership on AIDS has been demonstrated within civil society organisations challenging the status quo. Making leadership the theme of the next two World AIDS Days will help encourage leadership on AIDS within all levels and sectors of society. We hope it will inspire and foster champions within a range of different groups and networks at local and international levels.AccountabilityLeadership as a theme follows and builds on the 2006 theme of accountability. Despite the efforts to hold leaders accountable in 2006, progress in halting HIV is falling far short of targets.Over 5700 people died each day from AIDS-related illnesses in 2007. Over 6800 people are still being infected with HIV daily, about 1200 of whom are children under 15 and about 2900 are women 15 years and older. The infection rates in young people ages 15-24 remain frighteningly high.In North America and across Western Europe (particularly in the UK) infection rates among men who have sex with men continue to rise alarmingly. We know these infections and these deaths are preventable and avoidable if promises by countries to scale up access to prevention, treatment, care and support for all are to be fulfilled by 2010.In high level meetings, governments of rich countries promised to increase the spending on development aid to 0.7 percent of their annual budget. Only a handful of countries have done so. In the Abuja Declaration, African leaders committed to allocating 15 percent of their budgets to health. This has happened in just one or two countries, with only one-third of African countries spending over 10 percent. Promises are not being kept because there is a lack of leadership at every level. For more information about HIV and AIDS around the world,please visit the following websites:World Aids Campaign (International)UNAIDS (International)EuroHIV (International)Deutsche Aids Hilfe (Deutschland)Aids Fonds (Niederlande)Gay Mens Health Crisis (USA)Terence Higgins Trust (GB)AIDeS (Frankreich)Lega Italiana per la Lotta Contro l'AIDS (Italien)Stop Sida (Spanien)Aids Portugal (Portugal)