On Sunday, the Czech Republic will commemorate the International Day of Remembrance for AIDS Victims. Several important buildings will be lit up with red lights
Most people in the last year have turned their attention to fighting covid. But HIV still exists and will not go away without strong action. In the Czech Republic, there has been an increase of 251 HIV-positive cases in 2020 compared to 2019. The latest data from the State Institute of Health shows that as of 31 March 2021, there were a total of 3,892 HIV-positive people in the Czech Republic, which is 248 more than as of 31 March 2020 (3,644 HIV+). Men who have sex with men continue to be the largest group, followed by heterosexual men/women and injecting drug users.
Where does Slovakia stand? According to data from the Slovak Public Health Office, there were a total of 1,059 HIV-positive people in Slovakia as of 31 December 2020, with 110 new cases in 2020, the highest increase ever in a single calendar year. How are the HIV and coronavirus pandemics similar? We wrote HERE.
On Sunday, May 16, 2021, at 8:00 p.m., the Light for AIDS will illuminate 16 buildings in Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Zlín, Děčín, Ústí nad Labem, Plzeň, Chrudim and Bratislava. "In the last year, the company has focused its attention on fighting covid-19 and other serious diseases, including HIV, have been somewhat forgotten. People have sought less preventive medical care and the number of HIV tests has dropped. Due to the lack of testing and preventive care, the number of HIV-positive people in the Czech Republic and Slovakia started to rise significantly. Unfortunately, HIV itself will not disappear and remains a major problem for society," says Jiří Pavlát, director of the Light House of the Czech AIDS Aid Society, adding, " The Light for AIDS event serves not only as a symbolic reminder of AIDS victims, but also as a reminder of the problem of stigmatisation of HIV-positive people and the growing number of HIV cases."
The Czech AIDS Aid Society, a non-profit HIV prevention organisation that has been providing support to people living with HIV for 30 years, including free and anonymous testing for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and internet and telephone counselling, is organising the Light for AIDS project for the eighth year in the Czech Republic and the fifth year in Slovakia. The global motto of the event is "Remembering - Fighting - Living in spite of HIV". The motto calls for reflection and commitment to work together to end the AIDS epidemic. Red is not only the colour of light, but also the colour of the ribbon, which has become a symbol of support for HIV-positive people and AIDS patients.
Join the awareness-raising photo contest
For those who want to get involved, at least symbolically, in Light for AIDS activities and draw attention to the fact that HIV is still a big problem, a photo competition is being organised as part of the AIDS Memorial Day. Simply take a photo of any red-lit building (or yourself in front of that building) from any city on the list below and post the photo in the comments section of the Czech AIDS Aid Society' s Facebook post . Add the hashtags #aidspaids #svetloproaids #candlelightmemorial2021 and the hashtag with the city of the lit building (e.g. #praha) and be sure to upload the photo by Wednesday, May 19, 2021. The best photos will be announced the week of May 24, 2021 on the Czech AIDS Aid Society's social media. You can win a prevention package and a diploma.
List of cities and red-lit buildings:
Prague
- Dancing House
- Žižkov Tower
- OC Nový Smíchov
- Westfield Chodov
- Petřín Tower
- Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic
Plzeň
- J. K. Tyl Theatre
Děčín
- Centrum Pivovar Děčín
Ústí nad Labem
- Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Chrudim
- Museum of Puppetry Cultures
Brno
- Film Faculty of JAMU
Olomouc
- Šantovka Gallery
Zlín
- Skyscraper "Twenty-one"
Bratislava
- Slovak National Theatre, new building
- New Centre for the Arts
- YMCA
International Day of Remembrance for AIDS Victims falls on 16 MayPhoto: ČSAP
