Today Monday 1 December, Zanzibar joins the rest of the world to mark its first ever World AIDS Day with a special week of celebrations. This is a new beginning for Zanzibar as it finally breaks the silence over HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Day is celebrated across the globe by over 100 million people and this year is its 20th anniversary. It's organised by the United Nations to unite the globe in raising awareness of the disease, which kills more than 2,000,000 every year. Now Zanzibar is going to be a part of these celebrations.

As this is the first time Zanzibar has held such a unique event, a week long programme of FREE* events lasting from December 1 to 7 have been organised by travel specialists Explore Zanzibar, working alongside the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and local Civil Society Organisations working in the HIV/AIDS sector.

The highlights include:

1 December 7.30pm: Fashion Show by renowned Tanzanian designer Ally Rehmtullah at Zanzibar Hotel. Tickets priced at 15,000 still available.

2 December 3pm: Special AIDS awareness football match at Maisara grounds.

5 December 9pm: Fancy dress party and live band at Livingstone Beach Restaurant.

6 December 8pm: Music talent show at the Old Fort.

7 December 3pm: Talk show held at Zanzibar Serena Inn, your chance to ask the questions you've always wanted to ask about HIV/AIDS and how to defeat it

7 December 8pm: World AIDS Week concert at Old fort, by Music Crossroads (musicians in the time of HIV/AIDS)

1-7 December: A series of workshops and activities held on a daily basis throughout the island promoting HIV/AIDS Awareness. More information available on request.

World AIDS Week has been organised through a number of private and public collaborations, but special thanks must go to the main sponsors Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), VODACOM, Arab Republic of Egypt in Zanzibar, United Petroleum, ZanAir, Memories of Zanzibar, Fundu Lagoon, La Gemma Dell'Est, Zanzibar Hotel, UNESCO and Music Crossroads.

Author: Explore Zanzibar