THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MOODI AWORI , ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNEMNT OF KENYA, LAUNCHING AND ACCREDITING NAZLIN UMAR FAZALDIN RAJPUT AND HER HISTORICAL GROUNDBREAKING PROJECTS
At the National Muslim Council of Kenya, NMCK-NUR, “Breaking the silence, Behind the Veil” National Launch, Launched by the Vice President of the Republic of Kenya His Excellency Hon Moody Awori and the United States Ambassador His Excellency William Bellamy, on the 25th day of April at the Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
“I am delighted to join you as we launch the National Muslim Council of Kenya (NMCK) and its ‘Behind the Veil’ project. This is particularly important for our country as it targets those from the minority groups whose level of sensitizing on the scourge is low. Your presence is a testimony of the commitment you as the members of the Muslim community have in the fight against diseases. I thank you all for the tremendous effort you are making to support the government in the fight against this dreadful disease among your community.
I regard this to be very special and unique because women have felt that there is a need to take a new outlook in our approach to combat HIV/AIDS scourge. In Kenya, we have already lost more than 1.5m to the disease since 1984, when the first case was detected. It is estimated that today, 17 per cent of the urban population and 13 per cent of the rural population is infected with the virus. Notwithstanding the vast number of people who are yet to undergo the HIV/AIDS test, the situation could be much more alarming, than what the available figures show.
Consequently, with such organization (NMCK-NUR) led by women (Nazlin Umar Fazaldin Rajput) I see this as a beginning of a strong co-ordination mechanism for those infected and the wider society. It is a new strategy that will go a long way to empower communities and help them admit that HIV/AIDS is a reality and that behavior change is the only remedy. The strategy of going public will greatly halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. It will also enable people to provide care to the infected and affected. We must support the women who have volunteered to break the chains of bondage to eliminate HIV/AIDS among Muslim community.
In particular, leaders should mobilize communities towards eliminating the stigma and social discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. Many people do not go for HIV/AIDS tests, for fear of the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease. Others conceal their true HIV/AIDS status for fear of the same. Discrimination and stigma are therefore, a key impediment in combating the disease. We all need to give those infected hope, love and care.
In conclusion, we need to remind ourselves that for the total war to be successful; we must place particular emphasis on the most vulnerable members of our society particularly women and the youth and integrate them fully into our programmers. Indeed, future generations will judge us on how we manage this pandemic. It is my pleasure to declare the NMCK and the ‘Behind the Veil’ project officially launched.”
FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT, HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MOODI AWORI
THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MOODI AWORI , ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNEMNT OF KENYA, LAUNCHING AND ACCREDITING NAZLIN UMAR FAZALDIN RAJPUT AND HER HISTORICAL GROUNDBREAKING PROJECTS
At the National Muslim Council of Kenya, NMCK-NUR, “Breaking the silence, Behind the Veil” National Launch, Launched by the Vice President of the Republic of Kenya His Excellency Hon Moody Awori and the United States Ambassador His Excellency William Bellamy, on the 25th day of April at the Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
“I am delighted to join you as we launch the National Muslim Council of Kenya (NMCK) and its ‘Behind the Veil’ project. This is particularly important for our country as it targets those from the minority groups whose level of sensitizing on the scourge is low. Your presence is a testimony of the commitment you as the members of the Muslim community have in the fight against diseases. I thank you all for the tremendous effort you are making to support the government in the fight against this dreadful disease among your community.
I regard this to be very special and unique because women have felt that there is a need to take a new outlook in our approach to combat HIV/AIDS scourge. In Kenya, we have already lost more than 1.5m to the disease since 1984, when the first case was detected. It is estimated that today, 17 per cent of the urban population and 13 per cent of the rural population is infected with the virus. Notwithstanding the vast number of people who are yet to undergo the HIV/AIDS test, the situation could be much more alarming, than what the available figures show.
Consequently, with such organization (NMCK-NUR) led by women (Nazlin Umar Fazaldin Rajput) I see this as a beginning of a strong co-ordination mechanism for those infected and the wider society. It is a new strategy that will go a long way to empower communities and help them admit that HIV/AIDS is a reality and that behavior change is the only remedy. The strategy of going public will greatly halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. It will also enable people to provide care to the infected and affected. We must support the women who have volunteered to break the chains of bondage to eliminate HIV/AIDS among Muslim community.
In particular, leaders should mobilize communities towards eliminating the stigma and social discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. Many people do not go for HIV/AIDS tests, for fear of the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease. Others conceal their true HIV/AIDS status for fear of the same. Discrimination and stigma are therefore, a key impediment in combating the disease. We all need to give those infected hope, love and care.
In conclusion, we need to remind ourselves that for the total war to be successful; we must place particular emphasis on the most vulnerable members of our society particularly women and the youth and integrate them fully into our programmers. Indeed, future generations will judge us on how we manage this pandemic. It is my pleasure to declare the NMCK and the ‘Behind the Veil’ project officially launched.”