The President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued aProclamation declaring Sunday, December 1, 2013 as World AIDS Day to be celebrated throughout Liberia as a Working Holiday.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s World Aids Day will be observed under the Global Theme: Getting To Zero: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination And Zero AIDS Related Deaths.

The Proclamation calls on all Ministries and Agencies of Government, local and international organizations as well as the general public to join the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to organize and execute appropriate programs in commemorating the Day.

The release says the Government of Liberia is committed to providing the best quality of life its People deserve by promulgating and promoting programs aimed at improving their health, well-being and welfare, thereby preventing deaths and illnesses amongst the entirepopulace.

The Presidential Proclamation stated that the United Nations Joint Program on HIV /AIDS  (UNAIDS)  has designated the first day ofDecember of each year as World AIDS Day in recognition of the immense contributions of the United Nations to combat HIV/AIDS.

The Proclamation further indicated that the principles of creating awareness of the threat of HIV/AIDS embodied in the policies of theGovernment, as adopted, are in accordance with those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Joint Program
on the HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to educate and keep the Liberian People aware of the threat of AIDS.

Since the diagnosis of AIDS in 1981, it has continued to pose a serious problem and threats to the health and wellbeing of the human race of which the People of Liberia are of no exception, the Proclamation added.

Signed: