Zimbabwe's MDC Thanks AHF For "One Million Tests/World AIDS Day 2008" Leadership

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 24 Dec 2008 - 1:00 PST

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AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is proud to have received a letter of acknowledgement from Austin Menzies Moyo Snr., Chairman of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - South Africa Province, a prominent Zimbabwean political party, expressing gratitude for AHF's partnership in the recent "One Million Tests/World AIDS Day 2008" http://www.onemilliontests.org/ campaign. The worldwide campaign spearheaded by AHF, brought together 1000 organizations in 72 countries to provide free HIV tests to one million people around the global in observance of World AIDS Day 2008. The DMC participated in the opening of AHF's Ithembalabantu Testing Center in Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. In observance of World AIDS Day, thirty-nine members of the DMC - South Africa Province leadership got tested for HIV at the new site as part of AHF's campaign to reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS and encourage people to get tested.

In the letter, Mr. Austin Menzies Moyo Snr. states: "On behalf of the party structures in South Africa and MDC National, we would like to thank you for your assistance and recognise your commitment to assisting people deal with the fear they have with knowing their status. No amount of words can be able to express our gratitude."

"AHF is humbled by this acknowledgement by the MDC party leadership and grateful to have had the opportunity to work with MDC and contribute to a feeling of hope for a positive change in attitudes about HIV testing in Zimbabwe," said Terri Ford, Director of Global Advocacy for AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Full text of the letter below:

5 December 2008
To: TERRI M. FORD
Director, Global Advocacy
AIDS Healthcare Foundation

CC: Hon. Lovemore Moyo (National Chairman)
Hon. Tendai Biti (Secretary General)
Mr. Roy Bennet (Treasurer General)
Hon. Mukonoweshuro (Sec. International Relations)

RE: Voluntary MSC SA Leadership HIV Testing

Dear Terri and your South Africa Team

I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the assistance that you provided in making our participation in the World AIDS Day a success. The event provided a new experience and some insight to all our leaders that participated that day and even to those that had remained behind, a change of attitude can be seen. It is our hope that this will lead to a positive change as far as dealing with HIV and AIDS issues by both our leadership and the people that we lead.

It was really great partnering with you and your team was magnanimous. We hope that such partnerships will continue in the future.

On behalf of the party structures in South Africa and MDC National, we would like to thank you for your assistance and recognise your commitment to assisting people deal with the fear they have with knowing their status. No amount of words can be able to express our gratitude.

May you be abundantly blessed for the support and commitment that you have shown.

Yours Sincerely,

Austin Menzies Moyo Snr.
Chairman
MDC - South Africa Province

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organization in the US. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 93,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation