Mozambique holds human chain to raise HIV/AIDS awareness

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique holds human chain to raise HIV/AIDS awareness

9:36 CAT | 14 Jun 2022

Photo: @CNCSMocambique

Mozambique on Saturday held its first human chain for HIV/AIDS with the aim of maximizing the reach of messages about the disease and raising awareness among young people about the need for prevention, treatment and retention in antiretroviral treatment (ART).

The initiative, organized by the National AIDS Council (CNCS), also aimed to reduce stigma and create a favorable environment for people to adhere to treatment. The human chain was launched simultaneously in the cities of Maputo, Beira and Nampula.

Let’s all participate on Saturday, June 11, from 9.30am in Beira, Maputo and Nampula, in @PEPFAR‘s action – Cordão Humano SOMOS IGUAIS – for equity and non-discrimination in HIV pic.twitter.com/RF5txzRXMt

— N’weti (@n_weti) June 9, 2022

Speaking moments after the launch of the initiative, the CNCS Executive Secretary, Francisco Mbofana, said that the human chain aims to pass on the message that HIV/AIDS is a disease like any other.

“When we talk about normalizing the conversation about HIV we want to pass on the message that HIV is just like any other disease”, he said. “We have to create an enabling environment so that people currently living with the disease can access HIV/AIDS services ″.

″But starting treatment is not everything”, Mbofana added. “We have to help these people to stay on treatment in order to achieve viral suppression”.

He explained that retaining those who are on ARV treatment has been a major challenge, because they fear that they will be excluded in the society. “Our message is that HIV/AIDS is not over yet, and that message must be spread in order to ensure prevention”, Mbofana added.

″HIV/AIDS is not over yet, and not being over means that we have to keep those actions to avoid infection. If we avoid infection, consequently, we won’t need to take treatment. We want to remind young people particularly that we have in our hands a set of measures that can help us avoid HIV infection″, he said.

Teve lugar, hoje, o primeiro Cordão Humanos Somos Iguais em Maputo.

Juntos normalizamos o HIV.#HIV #SIDA pic.twitter.com/r4OxrzM7pN

— Conselho Nacional de Combate ao SIDA (@CNCSMocambique) June 11, 2022

Cordão Humano na cidade de #Maputo em apoio à campanha #SomosIguais liderada pelo @CNCSMocambique #HIV. #Mocambique #Africa. pic.twitter.com/IlCCqGRgXh

— @proudly_moz (@proudly_moz) June 11, 2022

Source: AIM