|
ANTI-AIDS MOTOR RALLY LAUNCHED IN BELARUS
On 30 September, an action “Motor Rally “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise” started off at the main entrance to the Gorky Park in Minsk. The action is carried out under the UNDP project “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment in the Republic of Belarus” implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Health with the financial support by the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Within one year, starting from October, a bus, a trolleybus and a tram will be running through the Belarusian capital carrying the logo of the Global campaign “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise”. Passengers will also find written on the vehicles a slogan “Find out how to protect yourself and those whom you love!” containing the web-page addresses and the hot-line phone, which will provide connection to any AIDS-related information.
“The motor rally represents the kind of action to increase HIV/AIDS awareness that we need more of. It is long-term and accessible by the broad public, that’s why I hope that the task of the action will be successfully achieved. The vehicles that will drive around Minsk will indeed attract the attention of everybody and people will learn how easy it is to get the information they need to protect themselves, their friends and families,” UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus, Ms. Cihan Sultanoglu, pointed out.
The rally head bus delivered to the Gorky Park unusual passengers – popular Belarusian singers Aleksandra and Konstantin, Niels, Olga Barabanschikova, Aleksander Patlis, the bands “Kliondaik”, “Mekhanika”, and others. On that day, they dedicated their songs to people sick with AIDS. A raffle was also held.
“Our idols have pledged to fight AIDS in Belarus, and called all of us to join in,” the action presenter, VJ of the First Musical Channel, Vitaliy Malinovski, said.
The motor rally, which started in Belarus, is a unique action: everybody getting on one of the transport carrying the logo “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise” will become the action participant.
Background: The Global campaign “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise” is carried out from 2005 to 2010. It is aimed at involving as many people as possible, especially youth, in the fight against HIV-infection.
For further information please refer to UNDP Communications Associate Vladislav Khilkevich, at 227-38-17, or Public Information Assistant of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment project, Maria Malinovskaya, at 8-029-662-41-84 or 270-73-51.
|