International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day

Every year on the third Sunday of May, worldwide is marked International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day.

The purpose of this day is to commemorate people who have died from AIDS, and to attract, once again, the attention of the whole society on this public health priority issue and to launch a call for solidarity with those more then 7000 HIV infected persons in Moldova.

This year, to mark the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day in Moldova, Positive Initiative network in collaboration with UNAIDS, WHO, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Health Department of Chisinau Mayor, AFEW and Z-PEER planned to organize a public event in the National Square of Chisinau starting at 11 a.m.

In the frame of this event, will end the Auto Rally "For Life" which started on May 10 this year on the route Chisinau – Cahul – Bender – Tiraspol – Ribnita – Balti – Chisinau. In the National Square will be lighten candles in the memory of those who died from HIV/AIDS, officials are expected to make speeches, will be distributed informational materials and thrown out white balloons. Also, there will be installed two mobile points for HIV rapid testing where everyone can make a test.

The Ambassador of the Auto rally “FOR LIFE” campaign, the young singer DARA, will make ​​public an HIV test, to motivate youth to be responsible for their health and to know their HIV status.

In Moldova, since 1987 till the end of 2011, were identified 7111 cases of HIV infection. Only in the first quarter of 2012 were registered 207 new cases of HIV infection. HIV infection in the age segment 15-39 years is 72.81% of the total number of cases detected.