By: Sheila Covarrubias
ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 17, (PIA) - - The city government through the City Health Office (CHO) spearheaded
last night the AIDS candlelight memorial at the R.T. Lim Boulevard in memory of
those who passed away due to the dreaded HIV-AIDS.
Themed
“Promoting Health and Dignity Together”, the observance of AIDS Candlelight
Memorial was an international event and formed part of the anti-HIV-AIDS
advocacy or awareness campaign.
City
Health Officer Rodel Agbulos said the event mobilized various sectors and
stakeholders.
The
activity kicked off with a walk from the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports
Complex in Baliwasan to the R.T. Lim Boulevard where the ceremonial lighting of
the candles took place. A huge wreath was set adrift at sea symbolizing the
city’s compassion for people who died of HIV-AIDS.
The
International AIDS Candlelight memorial started in 1983 and is originally held every third Sunday of
May. It is the aim of the activity “to honor, support, and advocate for those
who have been affected by the global HIV epidemic through mobilizing communities
for a world where people do not die of AIDS and people living with HIV can live
in health and with dignity.”
Mayor Celso Lobregat graced
the activity and thanked the different agencies and sectors that participated
in the activity. He said his administration will continue to undertake measures
to prevent and control HIV-AIDS in Zamboanga.
In 1999, the city government
in cooperation with the Human Development and Empowerment services, an NGO,
initiated the Effective partnership for an AIDS-free Zamboanga”, intended to
prevent and control HIV-AIDS. Ordinance 234 known as the Zamboanga City HIV
Prevention Ordinance that created the Zamboanga City Multi-Sectoral AIDS
Council (ZCMSAC) was approved in 2001 during the time of the late Mayor Maria
Clara Lobregat.
Mayor Celso Lobregat pursues the program through
the ZCMSAC where he sits as chairman with City Health Officer Agbulos as the
chief executive officer. The members come from various sectors both from the
LGU and NGO which include the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Medical, Civic Clubs,
education, media, youth, business and labor, religious and gay sectors.
Because of the city’s accomplishments in the
anti-HIV-AIDS campaign, Zamboanga has been recognized and cited several times.
In 2005, the city received the Trailblazer Award from the Galing Pook
Foundation on Effective Partnership Towards an AIDS free Zamboanga; in 2006,
the special commendation from the UNDP and Galing Pook Foundation for MDG 6
which is to combat HIV-AIDS and in December 2010, the city received the C.H.A.M.P.
(Catalytic HIV and AIDS Mitigating Programme) Award from DILG-LGA and UNDP. (JPA/SC/CIO/PIA9-ZBST)