30 November 2004

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Peace Corps volunteers, Burkinabe and national bike team aim to reach thousands of villages and distribute materials on preventing HIV/AIDS to celebrate International Volunteer Day, on 9 January, 2005.

On its fourth year, HIV/AIDS Bike-a-thon team aims to cover 785 kilometres for the next three weeks this year. They will start at the the southern area of the country, targetting to reach 2 villages per day and to work with health agents and community leaders in conducting HIV/AIDS awareness sessions.

Like the majority of sub-Saharan nations, Burkina Faso has not escaped the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the vast number of individuals infected, orphaned or dying from the disease. This epidemic continues as a result of insufficient knowledge on how the virus is transmitted and methods of prevention.