More power to the artists.
Gambian Artists Join Anti-Aids Crusade.
Over 45 creative and performing artists recently took part in a weeklong HIV/AIDS sensitisation seminar organised by the Department of State for Tourism and Culture.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at Paradise Hotel, the director National Aids Secretariat (NAS) Saihou Ceesay said the problems of Aids are so numerous that it is impossible to finish talking about them. He said artists have a big role to play in the fight against Aids. Information, he believes is power but that it has to be spread, a role he said artists should play. Mr. Ceesay reminded artists of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
“We all have to be strong in fighting the pandemic,” he added.
Declaring the workshop open, the deputy permanent secretary, at the Department of Tourism and Culture Abdourahman Jobe, assured participants that The Gambia can make headways in her fight against the scourge, which requires information to help control it and eventually banish it from the face of the earth. He informed them that their role as performing artists is fundamental in the crusade. He reminded them of their gigantic task to sensitise people in the process of minimising if not eradicating the disease. Mr. Jobe told the participants to pay serious attention to the lecture on the disease and also make inputs that will contribute immensely to the knowledge about controlling the global pandemic.
After a week of interactive sessions Ms. Isatou Njie, the Aids focal point at the department applauded the participants for their interest in the seminar and advised them to impart the knowledge about the disease they had acquired from the seminar. “It is one thing to learn about Aids but quite another thing to put what you learn into practical terms. Spreading the message is another important way of combating the disease,” she indicated.