AHF to Celebrate International Women’s Day with Worldwide Events on March 8th
On International Women’s Day, AHF will honor the millions of women
living with HIV worldwide and recognize their struggles through a series
of events around the globe.
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AIDS
Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization
operating in 35 countries worldwide, will commemorate International
Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th through a series of
empowering events and activities in 12 countries throughout Africa,
Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Americas.
While the official theme for International Women’s Day 2016 is “Pledge
for Parity,” AHF will encourage teams in each participating country to
adopt their own tagline tailored to their particular message. Nigeria’s
tagline is “For Women by Women,” designating a day on which HIV-positive
women participate in a series of lighthearted activities that champion
positive living and remind them they are not alone. AHF’s other
worldwide events include leadership activities for young women,
financial independence workshops, and motivational talks from prominent
female figures. Some events will cultivate female empowerment through
creativity: Zambia will hold a “Diva’s Nite” concert featuring
all-female artists and South Africa a hip-hop competition encouraging
young people to discuss gender inequality. HIV/AIDS outreach, testing
and counseling will accompany most of the events.
“Not only can HIV/AIDS compromise women’s health and well being, but a
HIV-positive status can also be associated with violence, poverty and
violations of women’s sexual and reproductive rights,” said Terri
Ford, Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy at AIDS Healthcare
Foundation. “International Women’s Day provides an excellent
opportunity to empower women and provide them with the tools necessary
to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.”
Through its worldwide events on March 8th, AHF aims to honor
and support the estimated 16
million women currently living with HIV. Women compose more than
half of the population living with HIV worldwide, and 58%
of HIV-positive individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. For women in
their reproductive years (ages 15–49), HIV/AIDS is the leading
cause of death. AHF is committed to improving the lives of
HIV-positive women through cutting-edge treatment and services.
AHF’s Women
of Action (WOA) will also be collaborating with the LA County HIV
Drug & Alcohol Task Force and other community organizations to celebrate National
Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10. The festival
will provide food, free clothes, art-making, a free Zumba class, music
and dance performances as well as free HIV testing.
National Women and Girls Festival HIV/AIDS Awareness Day will take place
on March 10th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion in
MacArthur Park. For more information, visit: http://hivdatf.org/2016trainings/women-and-girls-hivaids-awareness-day-2016/.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over
592,000 individuals in 35 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn
more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org,
find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth
and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare
and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.
Contacts
AHF
Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications
+1.323.308.1833
work
+1.323.791.5526 mobile
gedk@aidshealth.org
