Their News [Archives:2008/1130/Local News]
UN World Food Program to extend food assistance to dozens of HIV patients
The UN World Food Program (WFP), in collaboration with the Education Ministry's School Feeding Department (SFD) and Ministry of Public Health and Population's National AIDS Program (NAP), organized a workshop for 40 SFD staff. The workshop aimed to educate the participants about HIV, as they play an important role as supervisors and educators. The 2-day workshop was held in Shahran Hotel in Sana'a on February 16 and 17. Education Minister Abdulsalam Al-Jawfi and WFP Representative and Country Director Mohamed El-Kouhene attended the opening of the workshop.
Al-Jawfi emphasized the importance of the subject matter at hand and the need for cooperation among all official bodies and concerned organizations to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. He indicated the importance of the female trainees' participation to ensure the delivery of the workshop's message to school girls, thus drawing attention to the important role women play in raising social awareness. Al-Jawfi also pointed out that the WFP has been in Yemen for about 40 years and that its work is not limited to food distribution, but includes raising awareness and supporting education and social productivity. He pointed out that as youth are the most productive social group, society must ensure they are free of diseases that might negatively impact their creativity and productivity.
In his opening speech, El-Kouhene touched on the subject of social rejection and the associated problems that HIV patients undergo, particularly the shame and guilt related to the disease and public ignorance about it, which results in the patients being stigmatized by society.
The workshop comes as a continuation of WFP efforts to raise awareness about HIV. In December 2007 the WFP -in collaboration with the NAP and Ministry of Education- conducted workshops of a similar nature to over 300 teachers from 300 WFP-assisted schools in 6 governorates, including Aden, Lahj, Hadramout, Taiz, Ibb and Hodeidah, to raise HIV awareness among school children. In addition, the WFP -in cooperation with the NAP, UNICEF and UNHCR – conducted HIV training in Aden for 30 volunteers from the refugee community to raise awareness about the disease in the refugee community.
As a result of discussions held during the workshop, the WFP has agreed to extend food assistance to dozens of HIV patients under treatment who are registered with the NAP to encourage people to undergo tests and receive treatment.
Wildlife protection functions held in Sayun
Activities for the “Wildlife Protection” event in Hadramout were concluded late January, ending the 1-week program. The event, which was held under the motto of “Together to Safeguard Life”, was organized by the General Authority for Environment Protection.
During the event, a number of environment-oriented functions were carried out in order to raise awareness among citizens in several areas of Wadi Hadramout, targeting students in particular and persuading them to contribute in the protection of animals in danger of extinction, for example the endangered Capra Ibex, whose numbers in the valley have been remarkably decreasing as a result of aggressive hunting by residents there.
More than 70 students from different schools in the area participated in the events, which focused on environmental concepts aiming at increasing the students' awareness about methods and practices to protect animals living in the wild.
The students staged dramatic skits reflecting their role to safeguard the environment. Meanwhile, the General Authority for Environment Protection organized a visit to a habitat for rare animals, where students became familiarized with wildlife. In addition, photos of Yemeni wildlife were exhibited, and a program in Sayun Radio was broadcasted during the course of the week.
The events began with a workshop attended by a number of local council members and environment and wildlife specialists, who discussed the role of wildlife reservations in protecting the animals, and proposed setting up a reservation in Hadramout Valley.
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