President Weah Issues Proclamation Declaring Saturday, December 1, 2018 as ‘World AIDS Day’ To Be Celebrated As Working Holiday

The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah has by Proclamation declared Saturday, December 1, 2018 as ‘World AIDS Day’ to be observed as a Working Holiday throughout the Republic.

 

A Foreign Ministry release says the Proclamation is in recognition of the immense contributions of the United Nations to combat HIV and AIDS.

 

The Proclamation calls on citizens and foreign residents, national and international organizations as well as government agencies concerned to join the National Aids Commission in executing appropriate programs befitting the observance of the occasion.

 

The release further noted that it is in line with the principles embodied in the policies of the Liberian Government as adopted in accordance with those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Joint Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) to educate and keep the Liberian people aware of the threat of AIDS.

 

UNAIDS designated the First Day of December of each year as World AIDS Day with a call to all member countries to execute relevant and appropriate awareness programs in observance of the day.

 

According to the Proclamation, the official celebration of this year’s World AIDS Day will commence with an indoor program at the C. Cecil Dennis, Jr. Auditorium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Liberia, while on Saturday, December 1, 2018, the major event will take place at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia.

 

The proclamation says the event will be observed under the global theme “KNOW YOUR STATUS” and the National Theme:” DO YOUR HIV TEST”.

 

According to the release, the First Lady of the Republic of Liberia, Madam Clar M. D. Weah has been recognized as the Lead advocate to join global partners to fast track the targets by 2020 and contribute to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

The Proclamation then added that since the diagnosis of AIDS in 1981, it has continued to pose serious problems and threats to the health and wellbeing of the human race, of which Liberians are of no exception.