Marked globally on December 1st – World AIDs Day is a day for advocacy and championing the rights of all people regardless of sex, sexual orientation or ethnicity.
Since 1988, the annual occasion is of remembrance of lives lost by HIV and AIDS as well as an important reminder of the role communities play in response at international, national and local levels. World Aids Day is a day of solidarity with those affected by AIDS and how accessible healthcare without stigma and discrimination puts kindness and humanity first.
As the World Health Organisation (WHO) shares: “the world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected. With human rights at the centre, with communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030”
Under the theme “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”. WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to champion the right to health by addressing the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS.
At IJI we stand in solidarity with all communities especially those at the margins where poverty and prejudice drives affected people into greater jeopardy.
Today, we work with communities affected by poverty and stigma in Kenya and Zambia supporting the impoverished and marginalised with the healthcare and kindness they deserve.
This Christmas you can do something amazing and continue the important work to end AIDS and support victims by gifting loved ones with a life-saving gift which will contribute to the Mihcael J Kelly fund!
Presidential Award: Michael J. Kelly SJ, was one of the first ten recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards at Áras an Uachtaráin on 15th November 2012.
In honour of the late Fr Michael J Kelly SJ, this fund is dedicated to HIV/AIDs awareness, prevention and response in the Global South. Based from Zambia, Michael contributed greatly to HIV/AIDs research and education worldwide. Michael was honoured at the Dept of Foreign Affairs for his work on HIV/AIDS and received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.
From 2006 to his passing in 2022, Irish Aid has honoured Michael’s achievements through the Annual Fr Michael Kelly HIV/AIDS Lecture on World AIDS Day.
Since 1960, Michael J. Kelly had dedicated his life to education and the empowerment of women in Zambia. Michael contributed greatly to HIV/AIDs research and education worldwide. Michael was honoured at the Dept of Foreign Affairs for his work on HIV/AIDS and received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.
He was deeply saddened by the numbers of people who were dying because of the country’s AIDS epidemic and vowed to address the problem, which is where he truly found his calling and Michael spent many years focused on care and prevention not only walking with those affected but contributing to research also taking a keen interest in the educational dimensions of the epidemic. His work in this area contributed greatly to the knowledge base in not only Zambia or Africa, but worldwide.
Michael J. Kelly’s legacy lives on through his fund which is dedicated to HIV/AIDs awareness, prevention, and response in the Global South.
This amazing gift will continue that legacy and important work.
Visit: www.iji.ie/gifts & do something amazing this Christmas!