Seychelles to join Aids candlelight memorial |16 May 2008

The memorial is the world’s largest annual grassroots Aids event. It honours the memory of people who have died from the disease and demonstrates support for people living with HIV and Aids.

In Seychelles the day will be marked by a procession starting at 5pm at the Stad Popiler car park. It will move towards the clock tower, up Independence Avenue and around the Bicentennial Monument before heading back to the stadium car park via the entrance between the Pirates Arms and Barclays Bank.

Back in the car park, at precisely 6pm, a minute’s silence will be observed, candles will be lit, bells will toll, and testimonies from the infected and affected will be heard. There will also be songs performed by different choirs and well-known artists.

The event is being organised by the Ministry of Health and Social Development in close collaboration with representatives from the government and private sector, and NGOs directly involved in the fight against HIV/Aids – Shala (Seychelles HIV/Aids Links Association), Faha (Faith and Hope Association) and Haso (HIV/Aids Support Group) – as well as faith-based organisations.

The organisers are calling on everyone to come down to Victoria to show continued support, compassion and concern for people living with HIV and Aids.

The HIV/Aids figures are rising day by day in Seychelles. The Ministry of Health and Social Development has recorded nine new cases since January, bringing a total of 342 cases since the beginning of the epidemic.