International AIDS Day is celebrated every year on December 1. In order to inform the public about the spread of this disease (in 2022 it affected 1.3 million people worldwide) in Latvia and in the world, to increase responsibility for one’s health and actions, to reduce the number of cases of illness and to inform about possible prevention activities, the Latvian Red Cross Youth (LatRCY) organized various activities and events.
This year, activities were organized in several cities – Riga, Daugavpils, and Balvi.
Rīga
LatRCY volunteers distributed free condoms and informative booklets in the premises of the University of Latvia and Riga Stradins University, and also offered students to test their knowledge and fill quizzes related to HIV and AIDS infection. At the end of the day, an educational evening was organized with a quiz and the youth watched a movie about HIV/AIDS.
The activities were organized in cooperation with the Latvian Medical Students Association (LAMSA).
Daugavpils
Young people went to the “Sun School”, where they told 4th year students about HIV/AIDS, organized a quiz where every student could answer questions and test their knowledge, and distributed condoms and booklets. After that, the youth of LatRCY helped organize the annual AIDS quiz, in which 9th grade students from multiple schools of Daugavpils participated. The event was very engrossing and interesting.
We thank all the participants for their active participation in the event and for the precisedly asked questions.
Balvi
On the snowy evening of December 1, the young volunteers of the LatRC Balvi unit tested the knowledge of the residents of the city of Balvi and told them about HIV and AIDS prevalence statistics. They told them about ways to get infected with HIV, how to avoid getting infected, and what to do if you suspect an infection. Also, young people attracted the attention of passers-by with an informative stand and lighted candles in the form of a folded red ribbon – a symbol of solidarity for people affected by HIV/AIDS. The young volunteers also provided hot drinks so that everyone could warm up a little during the talks.
