WIYU-Arm

Love yourself and your friend

Everyone knows that the 1^st of December is the day of struggle against HIV/AIDS. On this day various events, actions are organized all over the world that are addressed at informing people about this pestilence of our century. Our organization also had its part and role in the mentioned action and on the first of December, 2007 participated in a youth event the organizers of which were several Armenian youth organizations.  

Walking around the city we disseminated leaflets on information about HIV/AIDS.  Many people were interested in the raised issue; the youngsters were actively giving questions and received respective responses. As the practice showed, people did not have corresponding information and many among them did not know that HIV/AIDS is not transited by hand shaking or by kissing. But the main thing was that everybody was interested in our action. A special attention was paid to our Austrian volunteer Florian who was wrapped in a red gown, put devil horns on the head and was walking around with a red stick. He was playing a role of virus that was attacking the immune system of a person, and plus to it, a day before the action Florian himself had prepared a posture on which it was written «Love yourself, protect yourself».

            We decided that it would be good to decorate the poster with the photos of the people who participated in our action and were able to make the issue public on a large scale.

            Young boys and girls, men and women, even grandmothers and grandfathers once again heard about HIV/AIDS, thought over the problem, and we are sure that they will be more careful and accurate in sexual relations. 

            Today in Armenia there exist 2800 people infected with HIV/AIDS and 528 of them were infected during 2007.  Every day 6800 people all over the world continue to get infected with immunodeficiency virus and every day 5700 people die of AIDS. The most vulnerable people are those at the age of 20-39 that is why we call upon our youth to be extremely careful and accurate: not to start sexual relations without using condoms, not to double use syringes, not to be afraid to turn to a doctor and have blood analyze to prevent HIV!!!!

            Certainly a day in a year cannot contribute to the solution of the above-mentioned problem but I, on behalf of our organization sincerely hope, that this action will help people protect themselves and their surroundings from the virus that leads to the destruction of immune system of a person.

VIOLET ZAKHARYAN