World AIDS Day!

Happy 23rd World AIDS Day!  I mean, not that we should be happily celebrating AIDS, just that we should be commemorating how... terrible AIDS is...?  I think I just botched that one.  :T

In any case, today is officially the 23rd commemoration of World AIDS Day.  As a PEPFAR-funded global health fellow, it behooves me to put a plug in for increased AIDS awareness around the world.  We (at the CDC) actually celebrated it yesterday at the US Embassy, since the Government of Nigeria had its own celebrations and functions today... we couldn't very well have the Americans upstaging the Nigerian Government, now could we?  Poor Jessica was stuck being the events planner for the festivities yesterday... it turned out ok in the end, but things were looking slightly shaky at the start to the morning.  With security heightened due to Boko Haram and other extremist groups, it was difficult to get all the personnel from local implementing partners into the Embassy... security is pretty tight there, and everyone who isn't with the US Embassy (CDC is technically part of the Embassy) needs to be escorted onto the compound at all times.  In short, we needed to babysit them. O_o  We had educational sessions on HIV awareness, blood safety, epidemiology of HIV, etc etc... free counseling and testing, a blood drive, and HIV positive individuals who sold their handicrafts.  One of the vendors was actually at the AISA crafts fair on Saturday--they organization is called Women of Hope (www.womenofhopecreations.blogspot.com), and they make quilt-type products.  I got a few for holiday gifts, so for now, no pictures of those, or it will spoil the surprise. :)  The US Ambassador spoke as well... it was all a bit of a blur yesterday, trying to help coordinate when I had no idea what was going on.  In the end, my "B" self just came out and I started directing people around based on what I thought would be best, since there weren't enough Embassy staff around to ask.  When in doubt, just go with your gut right?  -_- 
Here are some pictures of WAD at the US Embassy in Abuja:

 EFMC HIV Testing Crew and their spiffy tent.

 Shirley, our PEPFAR Coordinator, opening up WAD with an introductory speech.

 Prof. Nasidi, our self-proclaimed surrogate Nigerian dad, he's the director of the Nigerian CDC.

 Mary Beth, founder of the Women of Hope Creations organization, and Esther, one of the HIV-positive women who has benefited from the org and makes these awesome quilts!

 Ambassador McCulley rockin his Movember 'stache and the WAD poloshirt and hat given out at the fair.

 Ambassador McCulley rifling through the quilts... hunting for Christmas gifts?

 View of the Embassy lobby, where the vendors and blood drive set up.

 Yay for donating blood!

Double yay for Peji, donating blood!


In other news, S E V E N more days until home!  So excited... but time has somehow come to a stand still here... just need to power through one more week... let the packing begin!