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ACCRA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Ghana Country Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Girmay Haile, has lauded the Xinhua News Agency for its role in supporting the work of the UN agency.
Xinhua's consistent involvement in UNAIDS' fight against HIV, both here in Ghana and at the world stage, showed the news agency's commitment to raising public awareness on the importance of responding to the epidemic, said Haile to Xinhua on Thursday.
In March, UNAIDS and Xinhua signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to find innovative solutions to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
In July, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe presented the UNAIDS Leaders and Innovators Award to Xinhua President Cai Mingzhao in recognition of his leadership as a media partner and for his contribution to the AIDS response.
Haile said the UNAIDS' recognition of Xinhua at the international level did not come to him as a surprise.
"In fact, when we were consulted at the country level to what extent Xinhua is involved, I can say to you that probably the one news agency that consistently reports on HIV development in Ghana, that consistently reports on the key achievements that we have in Ghana without fail is Xinhua," he told Xinhua in an interview.
"Even though we have good relations with the wider media, even though there is an attempt by media houses to provide information on HIV, none of them can match the level of reporting and the level of involvement that Xinhua has been having in Ghana," he said.
Xinhua has been promoting public awareness of HIV/AIDS in China and abroad.
During the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS in June, 2016, Xinhua showcased UNAIDS "Fast-Track to an AIDS-Free Generation" message on a giant electronic screen at Times Square, New York. Enditem
