Solomon Islands will be commemorating World AIDS Day this week.
The Ministry of Health in partnership with sponsors has been on two weeks preparation for Friday's event.Sponsors of this year's event are Save the Children Fund, Solomon Islands Parenthood Planned Association (SIPPA), ADRA, Oxfam and the HIV Unit within the Ministry of Health.
In an interview with Coordinator for the HIV Unit within the Ministry of Health,
Mr. John Ngela said that for this year's event, the program has been integrated in collaboration with Our Telekom and the Solomon Islands Football Federation.
This year's World AIDS Day theme is: "Leadership - Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise" with a link to sports.
Mr. Ngela told Solomon Times that sponsors of the program have embarked on awareness programs last week.
"We were part of last week's Our Telekom Cup parade, demonstrating our support for Our Telekom and SIFF, and we will continue with our AIDS awareness program until the final games at Lawson Tama," he added.
As part of the awareness program, sponsors to the World AIDS Day have visited various campsites of teams currently in Honiara for the Our Telekom Cup to give talks on HIV/AIDS.
"We basically visit campsites and give awareness talks about AIDS to our sports people," he said.
Mr. Ngela said that instead of a parade through town, this year's program will have participants doing a clean-up campaign.
"The cleanup campaign will involve sponsors and organisers of the program, volunteers and anyone who wants to join us," he added.
Mr. Ngela said that as part of Friday's event, aside from the cleanup campaign, a Talk Back Show will also be aired on the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC).
Mr. Ngela said that on the actual World AIDS Day on Saturday, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health, Dr. George Malefoasi will give his address to be followed by live drama entertainment before the game kicks off for the day.