World AIDS Day 2018 – activities by the Latvian Red Cross

Within the World AIDS day which is on 1^st December, from 23 to 30 November 2018 all over Latvia different activities were organised.  In addition, Latvian Red Cross (LatRC) organised activities to raise awareness, invited people to make HIV express tests in order to find out what is their HIV status and also participated in events organised by LatRC partners, State institutions and Non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

PRESS CONFERENCE AND DISCUSSION “HIV – INFECTION IN LATVIA: TEST, TREAT, ELIMINATE”

Organised by NGO “DIA+LOGS”

On 29 November in Pauls Stradins Museum of the History of Medicine LatRC staff members participated in a press conference and a discussion “HIV infection in Latvia: test, treat, eliminate”. The main goal of this event was to find solutions and discuss different models of how to motivate HIV/AIDS positive patients to receive the treatment; experts form Estonia shared their experience, and information about the “Fast – Track – Cities” https://www.fast-trackcities.org  was presented.

INFORMATIVE EVENT FOR LATRC YOUTH MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS

Organised by LatRC Youth together with NGO “DIA+LOGS”

On 30 November, LatRC Youth members and volunteers participated in informative event about HIV/AIDS, to raise awareness of this illness, how to protect their health from it and how to decrease the discrimination towards HIV positive people.  In addition, LatRC Youth volunteer form South Africa shared her previous experience in working with HIV positive young mothers.

HIV TESTING IN LATRC HEALTH CENTRES IN RIGA, CESIS, DAUGAVPILS AND REZEKNE

From 23 to 30 November, everyone in Riga, Cesis, Daugavpils and Rezekne had an opportunity to find out their HIV status by taking a free and anonym express test in LatRC health centres and also to receive a consultation related to HIV/AIDS.

INFORMATIVE STAND IN UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA (LU)

Organised by LU Medicine faculty’s student parliament together with the LatRC

On 30 November in the main building of University of Latvia, everyone had the opportunity to visit LatRC`s and LU Medicine faculty`s informative stand to receive informative brochures, red ribbons, condoms, consultations and answers to questions related to HIV/AIDS.

INFORMATIVE EVENT IN DAUGAVPILS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS  “IT ALSO AFFECTS YOU”

Organised by LatRC Youth members in Daugavpils

The event was organised for 16 – 18 aged high school students to discuss effects of having HIV/AIDS, infection risks, treats, discrimination towards HIV positive people and to raise awareness of how important it is to get help as soon as possible if the person has find out that he or she is HIV positive. The event also included practical tasks and quizzes.

MUSIC EVENT “ROCK MARATHON 2018/ STOP AIDS”

Organised by LatRC Youth members in Daugavpils and Daugavpils municipality`s Youth department

On 1 December, LatRC Youth members together with the Daugavpils municipality`s Youth department organised musical and informative event “ROCK Marathon 2018/ STOP AIDS”. During the event different music groups performed on a stage, but LatRC youngsters shared informative brochures, red ribbons, condoms and answered questions related to HIV/AIDS, also they informed that also in Daugavpils people can make HIV express tests and to get to know more about this illness in the health centre of the LatRC Daugavpils branch.

CHARITY CONCERT “ME, YOU, HE, SHE, WE … OR ALONGSIDE?”

Organised by NGO “AGIHAS”, LatRC as one of the supporters

On 1 December, in Anglican Church (Riga) a charity concert “Me, you, he, she, we… Or alongside?” and awarding of the prize “Caress” was organized. This is the third year this concert is organised and it is devoted to HIV/AIDS patients, medical staff form hospitals and health care centres, State health institutions and to all people who understands how important it is to be aware of their HIV status, and how significant it is to reduce discrimination level towards HIV positive patients. This year the award “Caress” for significant work in reducing HIV infection prevalence was given to Mrs. Anda Caksa, The Minister of Health of the Republic of Latvia.

CAMPAIGN “BE INFORMED, BE AWARE, WEAR RED RIBBON”

Organised by the LatRC On 1 December, LatRC launched informative web campaign when we invited everyone to wear the red ribbon, take a photo and post it on facebook.com (and other social networks) timeline by adding this message: “Today I am wearing red ribbon. Why? Because I am aware, I am responsible for health of my friends and I invite YOU to do the same! Pin the red ribbon to your clothing today, on 1 December, on World AIDS day! #WorldAIDSday #PasaulesAIDSdiena #knowledge_awareness #zinasanas_sapratne  #LSKJ #LSK #RedCross #RedCrossYouth #KnowYourStatus”