ILOILO CITY (PIA) — A World AIDS Day Fun Run was held on Dec. 1 in view of spreading awareness on the disease with an opening program done at Atria Park District, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The activity was led by Regional Inter-agency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (RIACAT- VAWC) 6 partnered with national government agencies and other non-governmental organizations.
Around 600 participants and advocates registered to partake in the said event.
In her message, Dr. Patricia Tobias of Western Visayas Medical Center, who is among the organizers of the activity said the World AIDS Day Fun Run is not just about running but rather about uniting for a cause.
“Today honors those that have been impacted by HIV and AIDS, whether directly or through the loss of loved ones,” she noted.
Tobias further emphasized that the run aims to amplify the importance of prevention and treatment and to support the ongoing fight to end the stigma surrounding the virus.
This initiative is also in line with the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women which began on Nov. 25 until Dec. 12.
Other advocacy campaigns spearheaded by the RIACAT-VAWC in view of the said celebration were the following: Orange Run: An Advocacy Run to End VAWC; Orange Your Icon Lighting Ceremony in Guimaras; and the installation Orange Help Desk in strategic areas in the region. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6)
