At a glance: Denmark

Countess Alexandra relaunches the AIDS campaign in Denmark

© UNICEF Denmark/2007

Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg at the relaunch event for the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign in Denmark.

By Karin Aaen

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, 27 November 2007 – Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg, relaunched the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign in Denmark today.

The event was attended by a range of Goodwill Ambassadors, donors, corporate partners and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Danish representatives from the World Food Programme, theUN Population Fund, the Danish UN Association, and Danish child rights organizations.

“For the first time ever, children have been placed in the forefront of the international HIV and AIDS agenda – and the millions of children whose lives are threatened or devastated because of AIDS have become the focus of public attention,” Countess Alexandra said.

Organized by the Danish National Committee for UNICEF, the event marked the start of a week-long reboost of the AIDS campaign in Denmark.

Assisting vulnerable children

UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Per Engebak offered his insight into the situation of HIV and AIDS in the region.

“In total, we have seen progress in all of the four main goals of the global AIDS campaign. Still, we need to intensify our combined efforts to stop the spread of the epidemic. Even though the transmission rate has been stabilized, the number of AIDS orphans will reach 11.5 million children, in sub-saharan Africa alone, in the coming years. We have not seen the worst yet,” said Mr. Engebak.

Head of the UN and Global Development Issues Department in the Danish Foreign Ministry Susanne R. Hækkerup said she warmly welcomed strong engagement in the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign, adding that the Danish Government would support UNICEF in its efforts to assist some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

‘Heartbreaking to see’

At the relaunch, UNICEF Denmark Goodwill Ambassador and actress Trine Dyrholm made a moving presentation about her recent personal encounter with mothers and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

“Since my return from Tanzania two weeks ago, I have not been able to get the fates of these children out of my mind. It was heartbreaking to see that lack of resources can determine the destiny of a child whose death could have easily been prevented. Still, I also returned with a great sense of hope – and a feeling of purposefulness. It takes so little to make a big difference,” said Ms. Dyrholm.   

Countess Alexandra, who is a Patron of the Danish National Committee for UNICEF, concluded the event by stating: “No mother or father should ever experience the incomprehensible sorrow of losing their child and know that it could have been prevented.”