'Red Ribbon' visual competition to improve public awareness of AIDS

Shanxi’s first “Red Ribbon” Visual Creativity Competition concluded with an awards ceremony in Taiyuan, on Nov 29.

Beginning in September, the competition is an activity of the 28th World AIDS Day, which themed on “Getting to Zero” this year, on Dec 1.

The awareness is crucial for the prevention and control of AIDS, said Wei Xiaochun, head of Shanxi’s Commission of Health and Family Planning. To appeal for the entire society’s participation to fight AIDS, the competition recruits creative visual works from the public.

The awards ceremony of the Shanxi first "Red Ribbon" is held in Taiyuan, on Nov 29. [Photo/Xinhua]

Though Shanxi is in the low epidemic area as a whole, the province is challenged by the same risks as the other areas in China, Wei said, noting that the AIDS epidemic is hitting the young students with alarming growth rate. It is a situation allows no delay to strengthen control and prevention among the young.

Therefore, the competition mainly targeted the young with mobilizations in schools, communities and public places of entertainment. The competition committee has received 3,765 works from throughout the country, including movies, graphic designs and photography, with creators spanning various trades and professions.

A visitor looks at works of the “Red Ribbon” Visual Creativity Competition. [Photo/Xinhua]

“It’s a long and hard road to fight off AIDS. We will keep the ‘Red Ribbon’ competition and to promote the public’s awareness of self-protection and self-discipline,” said a worker in the province’s AIDS control and prevention office.