HIV/AIDS awareness concert in Bhutanese refugee camps

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN World Food Program (WFP) is organising an awareness-raising concert in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Jhapa and Morang district on December 1 on the occasion of the World AIDS Day.

According to the joint statement issued by the UNHCR and WFP, the concert is aimed at conveying messages to both refugees and the local communities around the camps on prevention of HIV and AIDS, with particular emphasis on the importance of getting tested for HIV and knowing one's status. "A mobile Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) unit, provided by the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia will be on site for free testing services," the statement reads.

"HIV/AIDS is much more than just an issue facing certain communities like Intravenous Drug Users or sex workers," the statement further reads. "This issue affects all of us. It is something the government, NGOs, UN agencies, and individual citizens must fight collectively. With honest, frank and open talk, we can beat this disease," the statement quoted Richard Ragan, WFP representative in Nepal as saying.

UNHCR representatives in Nepal Abraham Abraham said the concert would also help those living with HIV/AIDS develop coping mechanisms through support, counselling and treatment in order to continue living as normal human beings with respect and dignity.

"HIV/AIDS can be devastating when it is not known to individuals who may have contracted this disease which is why UNHCR together with the UN WFP aims at increasing awareness to prevent occurrence of HIV/AIDS in the lives of people," he said further.

Refugee singers and musicians as well as local artists will joined on stage by international reggae artist from the Caribbean, Jerry Julian, and his reggae band from Kathmandu.

This concert is part of a range of activities being organized by the UNHCR, the WFP and its NGO partners for the global '16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence' campaign, which commenced on November 25 and concludes on December 10, Human Rights Day. A second AIDS awareness concert is planned for December 2 at a local school in Birtamode, a town adjacent to the refugee camps. nepalnews.com ia Nov 30 06