Roles of education sector and religious authorities crucial in controlling AIDS: Naazim

Acting Health Minister and the Minister of Defence and National Security Colonel Ret. Muhammad Naazim has said that the roles of education sector and religious authorities are crucial in preventing and controlling the spread of AIDS in the Maldives.

In an address he gave at the closing event of a rally held in Malé today to mark World AIDS Day, Naazim said that “advise is very important in efforts to protect people from HIV”, which causes AIDS.

“Today, we ought to create awareness in our society about this. We have to get away from things that lead to HIV. We have to advise about the importance of being safe from it. Unless we protect ourselves from HIV and AIDS, there is no question of progress for us. Especially, those who are dealing with the youth in the health sector, the education sector and religious and social sectors have a very significant role to play in this”, said Naazim.

Today’s rally was started at the Social Centre, and was ended at the Republican Square. At the close of the rally, there was a music item performed by a traditional ‘bodu beru’ band consisting of female artists.

Health Minister Muhammad Maleeh Jamaal and a number of other government officials also participated in the rally.

Minister Maleeh spoke at the start of the rally, and he expressed concern about possible outbreak of HIV among the youth population. He urged all to get aware with the causes of HIV and take preventive measures beforehand.

“I plead everyone to take all necessary steps to save yourselves from falling victim to HIV. Especially, I urge all those who provided services aimed at the youth, to make those services as youth-friendly and age-and-sex-appropriate as possible”, said Maleeh.