WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (AFP) - Across the United States and here in the capital, where the AIDS infection rate is 12 times the national average, people gathered Saturday to commemorate World AIDS Day.
According to statistics compiled by the District of Columbia, the AIDS case rate here is 153 per 100,000 people, compared with 14.4 per 100,000 for the United States.
Of the 20,000 adults living with HIV in Washington, 79 percent are African American, said Michael Cover of the Whitman Walker Clinic, which is to offer HIV screening citywide, including at the Kenyan embassy Saturday afternoon.
"It's an opportunity to remind people that HIV/AIDS is not over, that we still face a tremendous global crisis. This is no time to let down our guard," said the clinic's executive director A. Cornelius Baker.
US President George W. Bush issued a formal proclamation Friday designating Saturday World AIDS Day, calling on the nation to stand together with the world "to fight AIDS on all fronts."
"We resolve to provide the resources necessary to combat HIV/AIDS. And we resolve to ensure that those suffering with HIV/AIDS receive effective care and treatment, compassionate understanding and encouraging hope," Bush said.
Los Angeles, where there are 40,709 reported cases of AIDS according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marked Saturday's celebration with a release of red balloons carrying messages of hope and inspiration.
Actor Danny Glover and former congressman Ron Dellums were to later launch the Black Media Task Force on AIDS to increase coverage of AIDS among African Americans.
In Philadelphia, a candlelight procession was to accompany a presentation of a new panel for the AIDS memorial quilt, a 44,000-panelled tapestry begun in 1987 to help people understand the devastating impact of the disease.
The motto of the 14th annual UNAIDS' 2001 World AIDS Day was "I Care... Do You?" an effort to encourage awareness and "intended to create a sustained focus on the role of men in the AIDS epidemic," according to the United Nations program.
In a statement released Saturday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said it was imperative to redouble worldwide efforts to turn back HIV/AIDS even in the face of the "new and uncertain environment" prevailing after the terror attacks on US targets on September 11.
"Every hour of every day, almost 600 people are infected. And every hour, more than 60 children die of the virus," Annan said.
In response to the question posed by the motto of the campaign, the secretary answered: "For all of us who care about the world we want our children to live in, the answer is clearly yes. But we must do more than say it. We must all join forces to do something about it."
Later Saturday, MTV network, a worldwide music television network popular among young adults, was to premiere its half-hour documentary "Staying Alive 3" hosted by Sean "P Diddy" Combs, profiling young people from around the world infected with HIV and AIDS.
"More than ever before, we need to focus on what unites us, not divides us," Combs said. "HIV and AIDS touches everyone, it kills without conscience, rich or poor, black or white, young or old."
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