HIV/Aids centre

Ideas to enhance your World Aids Day event

The World Aids Day theme of 2011 is: "Getting to Zero", that is zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero Aids-related deaths. Companies can choose one of these sub themes to focus on, or can focus on all of them.

New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV in need of life-long treatment are receiving it, leading to untimely death, and, sadly, in some communities and organisations discrimination is still rife.

Ideas for World Aids Day

To make a real impact during this year's World Aids Day, you can use zeros as symbols to bring the messages home. Here are two ideas that may trigger your own:

• Noughts and crosses is a well-known game which can be adapted for this event. For example, noughts and crosses can be cut out of board or wood and printed or painted with Aids ribbons. Crosses can be adapted to resemble † instead of x, in order to symbolise Aids-related deaths. Noughts or crosses are placed on a paper grid or on a grid drawn with chalk on the floor. The aim of this adapted game is for the noughts to win over the crosses, that is, to get to zero Aids-related deaths.
• The first World Aids Day was commemorated in 1988. This date is written on, for example, a wall where all participants can see it. All participants get to draw a number. In large organisations, each participant draws one number, but in smaller organisations employees can draw more than one. The aim of the game is for one by one participant to subtract his or her number from 1988 to reach exactly zero. Participants will have to confer with one another to reach the objective, which will facilitate involvement with others. Depending on the number of participants, a specific time limit is given for this game.

This year, it's perhaps a good idea for your company to take hands with other initiatives. For example, Ngwanakopi Ramushu, coordinator of South African Blind Women in Action (SABWIA) says: "We, the visually impaired women of South Africa understand that we are vulnerable to HIV and Aids due to lack of training on how to use female condoms, and the limited number that is distributed in the country. We are also at risk because of the attitude and perceptions that health workers and members of the community have about us. We are therefore committed to join hands with other women to advocate for the increased distribution of female condoms since it is currently the safest method of preventing HIV/Aids transmissions for us." Why not contact SABWIA and find out how you as a company can assist them?

World Aids Day is a great way for your organisation to remember those who have died because of Aids, to support those who continue to be infected with HIV every day, to learn more about the devastating effects of the disease and to reaffirm your commitment to fight HIV and Aids.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP) is available 24 hours a day. If you want to know more about organising events for World Aids Day, call us on the EWP number or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .