December is the month dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness worldwide, and the cause is being marked in Egypt through a nationwide advocacy campaign. Earlier this month, as part of the campaign that has been successful in previous years in mobilising different parties to combat the negative stigma that still prevails around the disease, the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Egypt signed a protocol of cooperation with two of the most popular radio stations in the country, Nile FM and Nogoum FM. And this coming Friday another event is scheduled targeting youth and reviving the topic among them. This Friday, 23 December, World AIDS Campaign (WAC) Egypt is collaborating with Cyclers running community and many other partners, hosting a free cycling event titled "Rush for Safety." The first of-its-kind event will begin in front of El-Zuhour Sporting Club in Nasr City district. The meeting time scheduled is at 7am and the run will cover a 10 kilometre route The main aim of the run is to spread awareness and eliminate the negative stigma surrounding those suffering from the HIV/AIDS. The organisers announced on their Facebook page that the run is for free and a limited number of bikes will be available, for which participants must register by name. They also announced that free sessions will be available for those who want to ride but are not yet capable of cycling. According to a global report released by UNAIDS, the number of new HIV infections in 2015 was estimated to be 2.1 million. The latest statistics issued by UNAIDS Egypt in 2014 indicate that the number of registered people living with HIV inside Egypt is almost 8,800. The estimated number of people living with HIV, including those who aren't registered, is 11,000.
