Manchester turns red for World Aids Day

Manchester turns red for World Aids Day
 
On Wednesday December 1 2010, key attractions in Manchester will be turned red to mark World Aids Day.
Manchester's Town Hall clock in Albert Square, the big wheel in Exchange Square and the ice rink in Spinningfields will be lit in red for the day, and a large red ribbon, the universal symbol for people living with HIV, will be displayed on the front of the town hall.

Thousands of red ribbons have been distributed around Manchester council offices and staff are being encouraged to wear one as a sign of support for people living with HIV.

Councillor Glynn Evans, Manchester City Council's executive member for adults said: "It has been over a quarter of a century since we first heard about HIV, and yet - around the world - five people die from related illnesses every minute.

"In Manchester we have always been at the forefront of the battle against HIV, but it's still with us. In fact, the number of people living with HIV in the UK has trebled in the last decade and it is thought that a quarter of people living with the virus don't know they are infected.

"Turning these landmarks red for the day demonstrates our commitment to those people living with HIV in our city - and around the world. Manchester is a city which is positive about them, and positive in the battle against HIV.

Councillor Paul Fairweather, Manchester City Council's lead member on gay men's issues said: "These actions in Manchester also raises awareness, and I would encourage anyone who has engaged in unsafe sex to get tested - with new treatments early diagnosis means you can expect to lead a full and active life.

"And of course, the best way to avoid getting infected is to always use condoms. If you are an IV drug user, you should always use clean needles. Following these steps will help us beat this disease."

Manchester City Council is a member of the Manchester World AIDS Day Partnership, a network of local agencies which organises local events each year. Volunteers from the Partnership will be distributing red ribbons for a suggested donation of £1 in the city centre on Wednesday - World Aids Day 2010. There will also be a stall at the European Market on Albert Square with information from HIV agencies across Manchester.

Later in the evening a vigil will be held at St Ann’s Church, St Ann’s Square at 6.00pm. At 7.00pm the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Mark Hackett will address the annual candlelit vigil which will take place in Sackville Gardens, Sackville Street, next to the Beacon Of Hope - the UK's first public memoiral to those affected by HIV.

By turning some of our city's landmarks red, Manchester joins a global network of cities that are doing the same across the world in conjunction with the (RED)™ organisation, which engages the private sector to raise awareness and cash for the Global Fund, which has distributed more than $19.3bn in 144 countries since 2002.

For World Aids Day this year, (RED) is highlighting the attainable goal of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015, creating the first generation of babies born HIV-free in 30 years.

For information on support available for people living with HIV in Manchester, visit the George House Trust website at

www.ght.org.ukor Body Positive at www.bpnw.org.uk.
 
To find out information about how you can get same day testing for HIV, visit the Lesbian and Gay Foundation website at

www.lgf.org.uk.

For more info on (RED)™, visit

www.joinred.com.

Published: 30-Nov-2010: (404)