Press Releases
U.S. Embassy Commemorates International Youth Day with Strong HIV/AIDS Message for the Zambian Youth.
August 15, 2007. Lusaka
Lusaka, Zambia - In commemoration of International Youth Day, which fell on August 12, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy hosted a forum on August 15 for over 50 youth.
Zambian journalist Charity Mutinta Mboozi, of Yatsani Studios, attended the event to discuss her recent award-winning documentary, “Through My Eyes,” which details the impact of HIV/AIDS on children. The thirty-minute documentary, which the Public Affairs Section showed to the youth prior to the discussion, won the CNN MultiChoice 2007 Award for Best Reporting on HIV/AIDS, an award that is sponsored by the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation of the USA.
In her remarks to the youth, Ms. Mboozi stressed the need to support those who are infected with HIV/AIDS. “Stigma and discrimination are some of the many challenges that people living with HIV/AIDS have to face each day of their lives. They need our love, care and compassion,” she said.
Ms. Mboozi also encouraged the youth to take an active role in fighting HIV/AIDS. “This fight is for everyone. The youths should take a leading role in the fight against HIV/AIDS because we are the leaders of tomorrow. Let us act responsibly and then come up with new tactics of educating the nation, to keep the HIV/AIDS messages alive,” Ms. Mboozi said.
U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Christopher Wurst congratulated Ms. Mboozi on her award and commended journalists for their efforts in sensitizing people to the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Mr. Wurst also underscored U.S. Government support through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to support HIV/AIDS initiatives. He said that since 2004, the U.S. Government has provided Zambia with more than $330 million to fight HIV/AIDS, and, in 2007, will offer an additional $216 million to tackle the disease.
The program was organized in line with the 2007 International Youth Day theme: “Be Seen, Be Heard: Youth Participation for Development.”
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