HIV Red Ribbon Award nominations on
Dec 27, 2009
LOCAL organisations leading in the fight against HIV/AIDS should enter the Red Ribbon Award nominations, Theophane Nikyema, the UNDP resident representative in Uganda has advised.
LOCAL organisations leading in the fight against HIV/AIDS should enter the Red Ribbon Award nominations, Theophane Nikyema, the UNDP resident representative in Uganda has advised.
“Local organisations leading the fight against AIDS should consider pursuing a 2010 Red Ribbon Award,†Nikyema said in a press release.
Refering to Mama’s Club, one of the Red Ribbon winners in 2008, Nikyema said this should be an inspiration to other organisations. “It was exciting to have Mama’s Club in Kampala win one of these awards.â€
The nominations for the award which will be presented at next summer’s International AIDS Conference in Vienna, will close on February 28.
About 25 organisations which have shown outstanding community leadership and action on AIDS, will be rewarded.
The call for nominations was announced on the World AIDS Day.
“This award draws attention to the exceptional work of organisations working at the forefront of the response to the epidemic,†said Michel Sidibé, the executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
All 25 awardees will receive a cash prize of U$5,000 (sh10m) and five of the awardees will receive special recognition and an additional $15,000 (sh30m) award.
The award presents an opportunity to support the local organisations whose success will determine our ability to reverse the tide of the HIV epidemic and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon said: “The work of community-based organisations will be more effective if not hampered by discrimination against people living with HIV and populations mostly at risk, including sex workers, drug users and men, who have sex with men.â€
Ultimately, the Red Ribbon Award aims at supporting creative and sustainable ways to provide care, treatment and support to people living with HIV in our communities.
The five award categories
Ensure that people living with HIV receive treatment
Support HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes for drug users
Remove punitive policies and laws, stigma and discrimination
AIDS responses and marginalise key populations (men who have sex with men, transgender, sex workers and people in prisons)
Stop violence against women and girls and promote gender equality
Enhance social support for those affected by HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children.