World AIDS Day

World AIDS day is held on the first of December each year and is marked by events around the world. I had never heard of World AIDS day before and didn’t really know what it meant. It seems to me working in St Francs every day is AIDS day as we deal with AIDS and all its related conditions and feebly sympathise with those who have lost loved ones to AIDS.

At the hospital the day is marked by drama, games and an educational briefing on HIV/AIDS at the football pitch. Staff members wear new World AIDS day 2010 t-shirts. To get some idea of what the day means I ask some colleagues and patients what world AIDS day means to them. Whilst most of the staff are enthusiastic about the concept many patients have never heard of World AIDS day.

‘It’s a day when you remember people who suffer from AIDS’
Mwambwa, patient

‘It centres on controlling the pandemic, we get to educate people and campaign for voluntary counselling and testing’
Harrison, student nurse

‘They do candle lighting ceremonies where we remember our friends and relatives who have died from HIV and AIDS’
John, nurse

‘Back home I didn’t know that world AIDS day was the 1st December, it should be a day for people from outside countries with high HIV levels to raise money and awareness’
Guru, medical student

‘I only know it is the day for people living with HIV. To me it is a very bad day because many people are dying’
Abraham, patient

‘It’s a commemoration day where we remember people with HIV and AIDS, not only those but everyone, those who have died, who are suffering and those who are preventing themselves’
Greyson, nurse

‘I hadn’t heard of it’
Postan, patient

‘It reminds us of the events and awareness of HIV, also the world as a whole it, reminds everyone of its dangers and existence’
Amitano, school headmaster

‘We must at least make more effort to find the cure, let those that fund help with more resources and share equally’
Charles, workshop

‘It’s the remembrance of people living with AIDS and those who have died’
Naomi, clinical assistant

‘I remember my relatives who have died of AIDS, if that time the ARVs were there maybe they would be alive now’
Catherine, clinical assistant

‘To me it reminds me of what I have done for our friends with HIV and what I think could be done for them’
Frank, lab technician

‘World AIDS day is a day to commemorate and trying to sensitise (people) to get to know about AIDS , to make everyone feel free and to encourage people to get tested’
Kapembwa, lab technician

‘I think of our staff who have died’
Dr Shelagh Parkinson, hospital director

‘It doesn’t really mean anything, I just observe it as a normal day’
Esnart, patient

‘It’s a day when we remember those people who have died from HIV and AIDS’
Charity, clinical assistant

‘For me concerning the day I can’t say much but since I am involved in the home care programme we meet clients with them their concerns and the problems they are meeting and then celebrate the day together’
Agrassia, nurse

‘The people who are positive and the people who have died, we remember them’
Miriam, clinical assistant

‘It’s a reminder that the problem is still there, to work harder to spread the word so that we can empower the community to encourage prevention’
Harrison, Clinical officer

‘It’s a day that people in the community celebrate the campaign against the illness’
Zingani, cotton plant manager

‘The day given to people to commemorate and remember those who died’
Ackless, patient

‘It’s a sign to say that the world has HIV’
Amed, daughter of patient

‘I know nothing, I am just surprised to see nurses wearing T shirts with World AIDS day’
Lebitina, patient

‘A day where we remember those who died and sensitise the others to say the world is full of HIV so we need to keep on spreading the message, it is not the end, HIV is still being spread we need also to prevent’
Limbikani, clinical assistant

‘Even to remember those who died a long time ago even before the virus was discovered’
Tembo, clinical assistant

‘Asking yourself do I know my status, it is important to know so you can take care of yourself’
Frida, ward attendant

‘Everyday should be world AIDS toady, world TB day, world malnutrition day, world measles day, they all get forgotten about’
Helen, Doctor