Haiti Lights the First Candle of the 2009 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

May 15, 2009

No. 2009/ 40 

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – The opening ceremony of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial will be held at the Sans Souci Palace, Cap-Haitian, Haiti, on Saturday May 16, 2009 kicking off over 1,000 Candlelight events in more than 100 countries. Activities will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a march and will culminate in the lighting of the official “candle that lights around the world.”

"The focus on HIV/AIDS in Haiti remains extremely important for the United States Government and is a key pillar of President Obama’s Global Health Initiative" said U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Janet A. Sanderson. "As we remember and pray for those we have lost, let us also celebrate our hard-won victories and our Haitian partners and the hundreds of quiet, unknown heroes who honor the memory of those we have lost to AIDS by fighting HIV/AIDS on the ground here in Haiti every day. They work tirelessly to teach prevention, improve the quality of life of those who have the virus, and combat discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS." 

Since 2004, the United States has provided more than 390 million US dollars to Haiti to prevent and treat AIDS, working through a network of partner organizations in all ten departments.” Haiti has shown progress in recent years, bringing HIV prevalence down in areas as a result of an increase in partnerships and prevention. Approximately 120,000 Haitians are living with HIV/AIDS.  Today the adult prevalence rate is 2.2 percent according to UNAIDS statistics, compared to an estimated 3.8 % in 2005. 

The Haitian Government is renewing its commitment to fight HIV/AIDS with an initiative to increase HIV/AIDS testing across the country.   The Abbott Fund is supporting this program by donating 500,000 rapid HIV testing kits to commemorate the Candlelight Memorial.  The testing initiative is a cooperative partnership between the Haitian government, the US Agency for International Development and the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, the Abbott Fund and local health implementing organizations that are working to stop HIV/AIDS in Haiti every day. 

Haiti was selected as the host country for the opening ceremony because of its recent progress.  The International Candlelight Memorial is the world’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS grassroots mobilization event. The event is being co-hosted by the Global Health Council and POZ, a nongovernmental organization that provides prevention and counseling services around the country.  Leaders and health groups were joined by representatives of international organizations to remember those lost to AIDS, to advocate for improved programs and policies and to celebrate the courage of Haitians living with the disease.