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BUTUAN City — In line with the annual observance of the World AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Day on Dec. 1, the local government here, through the City Health Office has challenged Butuanons to participate in the simultaneous combined fitness and awareness activity dubbed ‘ZumbAIDS,’ which will start at 3:00 pm at J. Rosales Avenue; Guingona Park; Caraga State University grounds; and Libertad Sports Complex.

According to Anthony Torralba, HIV Focal Person, World AIDS Day is one of the eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day, and World Hepatitis Day.

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“The best way to honor people living with HIV and those we’ve lost is to achieve the greatest possible impact in all the work that we do to end the epidemic. Government and health officials, non-governmental organizations and individuals around the world observe the day, often with education on AIDS prevention and control,” said Torralba.

Torralba highlighted that the ‘ZumbAIDS’ is a one-hour Zumba fitness activity to raise awareness and eradicate stigma and discrimination.

“This will also promote healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise of HIV status, elevate Voluntary Counseling and Testing, and involve everyone because we will end AIDS together,” he said.

Torralba added that as of June 2017, Butuan City topped the HIV/AIDS cases in Caraga region with 133 and now part of the Category A, meaning 80 percent of new infections will come from 70 high burden areas.

Interested participants will have to pay a registration of P300, which covers the singlet, bandana, and commitment form. They may also visit ‘ZumbAIDS’ Facebook page for more details.

‘ZumbAIDS’ is an innovative activity of the local government of Butuan through the City Health Office and Butuan Medical Center, in partnership with Caraganon i-Care Inc., a support group for People Living with HIV/AIDS, together with different government line agencies that are members of the Regional AIDS Assistance Team and Local AIDS Council. (pia caraga)

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