Four Embassies In Iran To Raise Awareness About HIV

Tehran, July 19, IRNA - The Heads of Missions of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Nigeria, Brazil, and Argentina have signed pledges to ‘Protect the Goal’, thereby making a commitment to raise awareness about HIV prevention on the occasion of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Through pledges, the campaign encourages people to get actively involved in both national and global response to HIV/AIDS. In addition to the Iranian National Football Team, these teams make up the rest of the qualifying Group F, with Brazil as the host country of the World Cup, a press release issued by the UN Information Center said Wednesday. According to Dr. Hulki Uz, UNFPA Iran Representative, “We are proud that the ambassadors and heads of mission of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Nigeria, Argentina, and the host country, Brazil, have signed the pledge to ‘Protect the Goal’. Group F is tough, but I am hopeful that Coach Queiroz and the National Team will make it past the qualifying round, and be successful in this World Cup.” Dr. Fardad Doroudi, UNAIDS Iran Country Director, says that, “Protect the Goal encourages people to play as one team to reach UNAIDS’ vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. That’s why we’re also pleased that the National Football Team Captain, Javad Nekoonam, and the Head Coach Carlos Queiroz, have signed the pledge, to show the Iranian team’s support for Protect the Goal.”/end