Sola Ogundipe
11 November 2008
With no less than 5,000 volunteers expected to participate in the 8th edition of the annual Great HOPE Walk earmarked to take place in Lagos November 29, a tug-of-war session in which the Wife of the Lagos State govertment would be pitched against the HOPE Worldwide staff, is the hallmark of this year's event.
The tug-of-war is expected to take place at the National Stadium following the 10 km walk that is aimed at drwing attention to the plight of People Living With HIV & AIDS (PLWA), particularly the children.
Country Director, HOPE Worldwide Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Osilaja, told Good Health Weekly that the tug-of-war innovation is being introduced to demonstrate the fact that the world is winning the war against the HIV & AIDS menace.
"In line with this year's World AIDS Day theme, we are winning but not stopping. The tug-of-war is to demonstrate this and emphasise the need to step up prevention.
We are seeing indications that we are beginning to put our foot off the pedal of prevention and there is need to intensify our prevention messages. We know prevention is the key and there is a real need to continue with the prevention campaign."
Osilaja noted that there are about 5,000 Opharned & Vulnerable Children (OVC) to be Other pairings in the tug-of-war event are The Press vs the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) staff; Primetime vs Coca Cola; ICOC vs the Police; FRSC vs Petrobras; etc.
Also speaking, Dr. Tokunbo Dabiri, CEO, LSACA said the walk is targeted at the women and OVC while the Agency is fully committed towards ensuring better access of women and children to HIV care and support services.
Proceeds from the Walk will go towards providing care and support for the OVC.
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