The president of the Assembly of ExtremaduraBlanca Martín, has inaugurated the institutional event of the World AIDS Dayorganized by the Anti-AIDS Committee of Extremadura (CAEx) and which took place in the Autonomy Room of the Regional Chamber.
Blanca Martín stated in her speech that “prevention and diagnosis of HIV are the only possible ways, today, to fight against this disease”, which is why he has considered it necessary to “educate in awareness of condom use and in carrying out the HIV test.”
Furthermore, the president of the Assembly wanted to “recognize and thank the effort and magnificent work of our professionals SES healthcare in their daily work in the prevention and early treatment of people affected by HIV, health organizations and patients, as well as the CAEx, Triángulo Foundationand other social organizations, in their work to raise awareness of the need to use condoms and perform HIV testing.”
The mayor of Mérida, Antonio Rodríguez Osuna, and the Minister of Health and Social Policies, José María Vergeles, also participated in the event.
Rodríguez Osuna assured in his speech that “on this issue of HIV and AIDS, citizens have gone from intolerance to ignorance,” in response to which he invited them to “always go to professionals to be well informed.”
For his part, José María Vergeles stated that “the Government of Extremadura has invested 10.2 million euros against AIDS.” Furthermore, he has assured that “there are currently between 1,100 and 1,550 Extremadurans infected with HIV.”
During the event, the video ‘Unmark HIV’, disseminated by the Anti-AIDS Committee (CESIDA). The video is part of the NGO’s 2017 media campaign, coinciding with the celebration of the World Pride in Madrid and has the collaboration of Janssen.
Likewise, manifestos were read by the president of CAEx, Santiago Pérez, and the students of IES Santa Eulalia de Mérida respectively.
The event ended in the Patio de los Naranjos of the Regional Chamber, from where attendees witnessed how the students of IES Santa Eulalia hung a red ribbon on the façade of the Assembly of Extremadura.