Uganda, 18 July 2012: UNICEF public service announcement urges focus on HIV preventionOn 22 July, experts will gather in Washington, D.C., for the International AIDS Society’s biennial conference on rolling back the HIV and AIDS epidemic. UNICEF will host a leadership forum stressing the need for innovation in eliminating new HIV infections in children. This story is part of a series illustrating UNICEF's efforts on behalf of children and women affected by HIV. KAMPALA, Uganda, 18 July 2012 – For the first time, UNICEF is supporting the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards 2012. These prestigious awards were established in 1995 to encourage, promote and recognize excellence in journalism across the African continent.
As a sponsor of these awards, UNICEF Uganda created a 30-second public service announcement about HIV prevention – a key priority for the organization. “Every day about 1,000 children are newly infected with HIV. Most of them are born in sub-Saharan Africa,” says the animated announcement. “In order to reach an AIDS-free generation, we must get to zero new HIV infections,” the spot continues. “How do we get to zero? Test mothers and babies, and give them the medicines they need. Treat and console those living with HIV, and also focus on prevention. Let’s get to zero.”
The public service announcement will be broadcast on CNN International throughout the month of July, in the lead-up to the actual awards ceremony, which will be held on Saturday, 21 July 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia. Amplifying efforts against HIV The public service announcement comes at a time when UNICEF and its partners are amplifying efforts against the epidemic. Next week, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake will host a leadership forum at the International AIDS Society’s biennial conference in Washington, D.C., urging further innovation towards eliminating paediatric HIV infections. UNICEF HIV and AIDS Chief Craig McClure will also lead a UNICEF delegation to the conference, with staff members emphasizing the need for coordinated action to bring new infections down to zero. The world is approaches the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals, which call for a reversal in the spread of HIV/AIDS and universal access to treatments for the disease.
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