MADISON, Wis. — In an effort to continue the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDs, credit unions around the globe will mark World AIDS Day, which takes place tomorrow.

This year's theme, Stop Aids. Keep the Promise-Leadership, challenges people to take the lead at every level to combat and overcome the disease, according to the World Council of Credit Unions. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region, home to more than two-thirds of all people infected with HIV, WOCCU noted. Worldwide, some 2.5 million people were newly infected with the HIV virus in 2007.

Several African credit unions, known as savings and credit co-operatives or SACCOs, are making a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. WOCCU's USAID-funded Cooperative Development Program, in partnership with JHPIEGO, an international health organization affiliated with The Johns Hopkins University, supported the launch of an HIV/AIDS peer educator program with Mwalimu SACCO in 2006.

In February 2006, Shameem Gaffoor, a Strathmore-WOCCU African Management Institute graduate and loan officer for Sibanye Cape SACCO in South Africa, formed an HIV/AIDS committee to educate members about the disease.

“As trusted, member-owned organizations in their communities, credit unions are effective vehicles for raising awareness, sharing information and mitigating the spread of HIV/AIDS through prevention,” said Pete Crear, president/CEO, WOCCU.