SAVE the Children has visited more than 20 business houses in Auki to provide education about HIV and AIDS in the lead up to World Aids day next week.

Volunteers from Save the Children, together with local healthcare workers, walked door to door explaining how the virus is transmitted and what resources are available to those who contract it.

"When people contract HIV, they can lose everything including their job," HIV Program Officer Kennedy Folasi said.

"If workplaces understand HIV and the victim’s status, they can look after them and respect them," he said.

Save the Children launched the Business House Campaign to cater for people who cannot attend HIV education programs that are conducting during business hours.

The campaign incorporates local businesses, government and non-government institutions, including schools.

It started on Wednesday at the Solomon Island Correctional Centre, where inmates were keen to discuss ways governments and individuals can respond to HIV.

SICC program coordinator Sergeant Jimmy Aega said the presentation had emphasised the need for communities to ‘work together’ to stop the virus from spreading.

"We must work together to fight this and stop AIDS from spreading," Sgt Aega said.

There have been 13 reported cases of HIV in the Solomon Islands since 1994 according to the Ministry of Health. Eight are still alive with seven currently taking anti-viral medication.

World AIDS Day will be celebrated on Tuesday December 1st with a parade in Auki’s main street.

The event was organised by HIV stakeholders Save the Children, the Ministry of Health, World Vision, SIPPA, and local police.

More than 15 communities around Auki will complete in a sports competition associated with the event. Football and volleyball finals will take place on Saturday.

Save the Children is the world’s largest independent child rights development organisation, making a difference to children’s lives in more than 100 countries.

From emergency relief to long term development, Save the Children secures a child’s right to health, education and protection.

Save the Children Australia manages and implements programs in Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

It also support development programs through its global network in selected countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Source: The Solomon Star, 30 November 2009