Unicef Banjul Office, last Friday commemorated the first anniversary of “Unite for Children, Unite Against Aids” a global campaign to attract attention on helping children around the globe, at a ceremony held at the Kinderedorf Botrop Technical Senior Secondary School in Brikama.
Speaking at the occasion, Momodou Njie Samateh, Principal, Kinderdorf Botrop Technical Senior Secondary School said that his school has in their own little way through the Peer Health Educators under the auspices of the Nova-Scotia Gambia Association been contributing their quota to the global fight against HIV/AIDS. He said the programme is done through their outreach programmes to educate and sensitise the students and the public about the realities of the disease.
According to him, since the discovery of the disease over 25 years ago, it has threatened lives and societies, describing it as the biggest threat to humanity.
“In sub-Saharan Africa, Aids is about young adults, men and women dying prematurely, most of them before they reach the age of 40 when life is said to begin,” he said.
For her part, Begay Downes Thomas, of Unicef said “Unite for Children, Unite Against Aids,” is a global campaign launched by her agency in partnership with goverments,the private sector and individuals, bringing together over 156 countries in the world to focus on helping the children.
Claudiana Cole, of the Department of State for Education, said Aids is known by all young people and adults as a deadful disease and it is therefore important for people to unite in the fighting against it .
Other speakers at the ceremony included, Jawara Saidykhan Health Officer at Unicef, Jenieri Sanyang Education Officer at Unicef and Alieu Jammeh of NACP/DoSH.