HASO marks international Aids candlelight memorial |19 May 2025
HASO marks international Aids candlelight memorial
Local non-governmental organisation HIV/Aids Support Organisation joined communities worldwide yesterday to mark the International Aids Candlelight Memorial.
The event took place at the St Anthony’s church in Anse Etoile.
International Aids Candlelight Memorial on May 18 is in remembrance of those who have died of Aids, a time to honour the ongoing fight against HIV/Aids and a call to action for a future free from this devastating disease.
In a press release, HIV/Aids Support Organisation’s (HASO) chairman Justin Freminot said Seychelles has not been spared by the HIV pandemic. “Even if services are available, people are still dying of Aids-related symptoms and new cases of HIV infections remain on the increase every year.”
According to HASO, since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, Seychelles has registered 325 deaths, among which 53 were in the last two years.
In its quest to stop the occurrence of Aids-related death, HASO and its partners are entrusted to building a community where everyone has access to HIV/Aids prevention, treatment and care services, where stigma and discrimination are eradicated and where all individuals feel safe, supported and empowered to live their life to the fullest, said Mr Freminot.
“HASO stands in solidarity with people living with HIV/Aids, recognising their resilience and strength in the face of adversity, and advocating for their rights and wellbeing,” said Mr Freminot, who added that this year’s theme, ‘We Remember. We Rise. We Lead’, resonates deeply within Seychelles where compassion, care and collective action are central to addressing the challenges of HIV/Aids.
“While we pause to honour and remember the countless lives lost to Aids, and recognising the profound impact this pandemic has had on individual and families, we also seize the opportunity to celebrate the many people who dedicate their lives contributing towards the wellbeing of people living with HIV/Aids.”
On this occasion, HASO reiterated its appeal to all spectrum of the community to be compassionate towards people living with HIV/Aids and join hands in taking stringent action to prevent new HIV infection and end the Aids pandemic. “It is only by working together that we shall be able to create a safe and healthier environment without HIV/Aids for the future generation,” he concluded.
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