SADC Artists Against HIV, Aids

SADC Artists Against HIV, Aids Established
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
Following the inaugural Sadc Artists Aids Festival held in Harare last December, a forum that would address HIV and Aids issues affecting artists - the Sadc Artists Against HIV and Aids - has been established. The birth of SAAAF is the culmination of an HIV declaration made by artists from Lesotho, Swaziland Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe who attended a workshop ... The forum, that is split into regional and national chapters, will undertake research on HIV and Aids and provide statistics and data on artists living with the disease. It will also network with other HIV and Aids service organisations in the region and individual regional member states as well as provide services and support to artists ... For funding, the forum will approach Sadc national governments, the international community and individuals ... "Artists have not been able to get help from existing organisations that deal with HIV and Aids. As a result, many artists have died in silence and isolation with no support from fellow artists, arts organisations and HIV and Aids organisations," said Stephen Chifunyise, who is the SAAAF contact person ...