2012 Mother’s day in Africa

On the second Sunday of May in the US and the last Sunday of May in Europe, the world observes Mother’s day by celebrating the crucial role that mothers play in the society as a whole. This holiday has its roots in the US in 1914. In fact, President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s day official when he signed it into law during the First World War. The desire to repopulate Europe urged European countries to adopt the Mother’s day holiday.   

African Aid Organization, Inc. (AFAID) uses this day to remember all mothers and pregnant women who live with HIV as well as those affected by AIDS.  This Mother’s day, Sunday May 13, 2012, AFAID invites you to join the organization in the celebration of this day by donating in honor of those most vulnerable mothers who have shown unconditional love to their children throughout their lives. A donation of $20 or more can stop the transmission of HIV from mother to child, feed an AIDS orphan for a month, and help keep mothers alive to care for their children.  You can make your donation online at www.afaid.org, www.crowdrise.com/afaid, http://afaid001.blogspot.com, or by mail at AFAID, 1325 G St. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005.

In addition, AFAID invites Mothers to observe this day by sharing your knowledge and experience with your child(ren ) about topic such as HIV/AIDS and associated dangers, Love, and relationship as to allow them to know the first steps to protect themselves against the disease.

AFAID remains committed to provide effective and sustainable strategies that help reduce new HIV infections in children, pregnant women, and new affected or infected mothers by offering education and support.  In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS infection has negatively impacted women and this negative impact has been aggravated by their gender, their biological vulnerability, and their communities’ extreme poverty. As a matter of fact, those women are less likely to negotiate the practice of safe sex because there are often subjected to non-consensual sex. 

Moreover, women in sub-Saharan countries of Africa are confronted with the issue of mother-to-child transmission of HIV when they are pregnant and with the responsibility of caring for AIDS patients without any HIV prevention education. Today, according to UNAIDS, it is estimated that three-quarters of all Africans between the ages of 15 and 24 who are HIV-positive are women. So, this is an all women issue; As Anne Statton, executive director of PACPI put it, “It's so important for women to realize why knowing their status is critical. Everyone should get tested and know their status” in order to effectively fight the spread of AIDS.