World Aids Day |01 December 2021
National Aids Council to host two workshops
The National Aids Council will commemorate World Aids Day 2021 by hosting two one-day workshops in collaboration with UNFPA and local organisations to build capacity on sexuality and prevention of HIV/Aids and viral hepatitis.
The first workshop for trainers will take place today at the Savoy Resort & Spa, Beau Vallon. It will focus on the ‘Validation of the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) manual for the Seychelles’. Through the CSE programme, youth as a vulnerable population will be empowered to make the right decision with their lives and be guided on where to seek help.
A short ceremony will follow to commemorate World Aids Day.
The second workshop, which will take place on Friday at the Eden Bleu Hotel, is entitled ‘Empowerment of persons who inject drugs (PWIDs) on harm reduction and treatment’.
The aim of this workshop is to increase prevention of HIV and hepatitis C and to increase access to health services by this left behind community. PWIDs are the main key population in terms of HIV in the Seychelles.
A short ceremony will also be held to officially launch World Aids Day.
Every year, on December 1, the world commemorates World Aids Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to Aids. Seychelles will also take the opportunity to show support to its people living with HIV.
This World Aids Day, UNAids is highlighting the urgent need to end the inequalities that drive Aids and other pandemics around the world.
With this in mind, this year the theme of World Aids Day is ‘End Inequalities. End Aids. End Pandemics’.
Tackling inequalities is a long-standing global promise. In 2015, all countries pledged to reduce inequalities within and between countries as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Global Aids Strategy 2021–2026: End Inequalities, End Aids and the Political Declaration on Aids adopted at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Aids in June 2021 have ending inequalities at their core.
As well as being central to ending Aids, tackling inequalities will advance the human rights of key populations and people who are living with HIV, make societies better prepared to beat Covid-19 and other pandemics and support economic recovery and stability. Fulfilling the promise to tackle inequalities will save millions of lives and will benefit society as a whole.
Covid-19 has affected the way in which prevention, testing and treatment of HIV, Aids and viral hepatitis have been carried out; for example, awareness sessions and outreach testing campaigns have decreased since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leaving people behind is not an option if we are to succeed to combat HIV even during Covid-19.
Statistics for 2021
In Seychelles, this year’s statistics, from January to September 2021, show 49 new HIV cases, 21 new Aids cases and 19 Aids related deaths.
Among the 49 new cases of HIV, 7 were co-infections of HIV and hepatitis C.
There was one new baby with mother to child transmission of HIV.
Press release from the National Aids Council