Coronavirus: Cancellation of the Solidays festival is a major blow to the fight against AIDS

Text by: RFI Follow

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Solidays festival will not take place this year. The consequences of the cancellation of this event, which raises large sums of money for the fight against AIDS, could be dramatic for Africa.

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Last year, the spectators who went to applaud Angèle, NTM or Dadju had allowed the Solidays festival to generate a result of 3.2 million euros. A sum invested in 108 programs to help AIDS patients in 22 countries around the world, most of them in Africa. This sum is likely to be sorely missed by local associations even though aid to the sick is made difficult by the coronavirus pandemic in Africa.

“ Concretely, Solidays represents 70% of Solidarité Sida's resources. With the recipes of last year which had been a great success. With this money, we had funded more than 108 programs around the world, ” explains Luc Barruet, co-founder of Solidarité Sida .

Do not get reimbursed for your seat

Programs around access to treatment, material or psychological support for AIDS patients. Despite the cancellation of Solidays, there is no question of giving up, for Luc Barruet.

“ We cannot resign ourselves despite this cancellation to say that we will be less able to support these exceptional activists. Campaigning against AIDS in France is not always easy. But campaign against AIDS in Lebanon, Algeria, Togo or the Central African Republic. We will have to find very concrete solutions by June. "

To continue its actions in Africa and elsewhere, Solidarité Sida asks its partners to maintain their subsidies, despite the cancellation of the festival. Spectators can also choose not to have their ticket refunded.

#Solidays will not re-enchant the world this year. A heavy blow for our joyful and united community. 👉https: //t.co/fxByJUozuf pic.twitter.com/C5aKRoOHpf

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