World Aids Day was celebrated by MONUC in Kinshasa on Tuesday 2 December 2008. During the ceremony, various speakers highlighted the need for greater awareness of the disease, and for people to open their hearts to AIDS sufferers, who should not be victims of discrimination or stigmatization.

Dr. Cheikh Diagne, head of the MONUC AIDS unit, said that the results up to now were insufficient, and that everyone had their part to play so that AIDS could be eliminated.

"Here in the DRC, because of conflict and sexual violence women are the principal victims of HIV/AIDS. We all need to work together so that this plague can be eliminated."

Africa suffers greatly, with 22 million of the 33 million worldwide HIV/AIDS infected people.

Mr. Hany Abdel Aziz, MONUC's Director of Mission Services, explained that "concrete action" was needed, as the treatment available for AIDS sufferers was insufficient.

"500 people every day in the DRC contract the disease, but the efforts taken in the DRC must be welcomed. The road is long but one hopes that by 2015 the disease can be slowed down."

Various theatre groups, including those from the MONUC Tunisian and Ghanaian contingents, then highlighted the importance of abstinence from sexual relations, fidelity to one's partner or protection, the three principal ways in which the spread of HIV/AIDS can be halted.

Magy, a 32 year old hospital laboratory technician who has been HIV positive since 1998, then spoke on how she has devoted her life to helping others and spreading awareness about the disease.

"People need to open their hearts to AIDS sufferers, who should not be the victims of discrimination or stigmatization," she said.