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Candlelight Memorial Begins in Lilongwe, Malawi
The 25th Anniversary of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, a program of the Global Health Council, was held May 18, 2008, in 115 countries.

Malawi's President Officiates at Candlelight Memorial
Malawi's President Officiates
at Candlelight Memorial
President of the Republic of Malawi Bingu wa Mutharika (center) lights the ceremonial candle
at the Opening Ceremony of the International
AIDS Candlelight Memorial in Lilongwe, Malawi. Joining him are the Minister of Health Khumbo Kachali (left) and Mary Shawa, Secretary for Nutritition and HIV/AIDS in the Office of the President (right).
The Candlelight Opening Ceremony was held in Lilongwe, Malawi, where President Bingu wa Mutharika lighted the ceremonial first candle to kick off global events. The former president of the Republic of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, also attended the Candlelight Memorial at Civo Stadium and encouraged people and governments to be open and honest about the HIV/AIDS crisis in their countries. President Mutharika called upon the thousands of Malawians attending the event to go for voluntary testing and counseling if they don't already know their HIV status. Malawi's president also congratulated civil society organizations in Malawi for being strong
advocates for improved HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs.

Also speaking at the Opening Ceremony was Maurice Middleberg, vice president for policy of the Global Health Council, and other dignitaries in Malawi. Middleberg congratulated Malawi's civil society organizations and the national government for creating a strong partnership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and setting an example for other sub-Saharan African countries.

Malawi was selected to host the Candlelight Memorial's Opening Ceremony because of the leadership demonstrated by the Malawi Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MANET+), a nongovernmental umbrella organization for more than 400 HIV/AIDS support groups throughout the country.

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