Rojalnu-Gambia observes world zero discrimination day

By Samsideen Ceesay The Pan African Youth Leadership Network (Rojalnu) The Gambia has joined the rest of the world in observing of the World Zero Discrimination Day. The event is celebrated annually in every first of 1ST March 2017. According to president of Rojalnu-Gambia, Tenneng Gitteh, the support gained for Zero Discrimination Day has created a global movement of solidarity to end discrimination, which remains widespread. “Millions of women and girls in every region of the world experience violence and abuse and unable to exercise their rights or gain access to health care services, education or employment. Discriminating at work at homes, schools, work, communities, and health care reduces people’s ability especially women and girls to participate fully and meaningful in societies and provide care for themselves and their families”. “Globally 38 countries, territories and areas impose some form of restriction on the entry, stay and residence of people living with HIV. Furthermore, legal and social environment are still failing to address stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and those most vulnerable to HIV infection,” She said. “The Gambia has revealed that the Adolescent Prevalence rate is 1.82% and more than 36000 people are infected with HIV/AIDS including adults between 15-49, women and children”. She pointed out that despite the disturbing challenges faced over the previous years the Gambia has made remarkable achievement in the fight against HIV/AIDS with the support from UNAIDS, UNFPA, NAS, ACTIONAID, GFATM etc. “For this year’s World Zero Discrimination Day the Pan African Youth Leadership Network (Rojalnu) complements the effort of UNAIDS Gambia and the regional body of UNAIDS, West and Central Africa and National Aids Secretariat to call on everyone in the entire country and beyond to make noise on every platform, social and print media, radio talk shows, to reach out the whole world. “Everyone has the right to be treated with respect to live from discrimination and abuse because discriminations doesn’t just hurt individuals it hurts everyone, data from 50 country shows that 1 out of 8 people who living with HIV/AIDS has been denied access to health care, these actions are unacceptable as health care is a fundamental human right with need to be protected by everyone because discriminations keeps people from their right to access health care”.]]>