Top of documentAMSTERDAM. Last week for the tenth time in succession the Dutch "Aids memorial day" was held at the "Beurs van Berlage"-building in the centre of Amsterdam. This year some 3000 people got together to commemorate the 1650 victims the desease has claimed in Holland to date. Aids Memorial day started out in 1986 with some 50 people gathering in an Amsterdam church, but after having moved premises twice because of the growing number of persons attending each year, organisers fear that in the near future the event may be forced out of the city centre just because no building there is large enough to hold over 3000. After the ceremony indoors, which started at 17:00 and included calling out the names af the Dutch AIDS-victims and lighting candles, those attending walked to Dam square where balloons with the names of the victims of AIDS attached to them were let up.
Top of documentAMSTERDAM. In related news the National Aids foundation has announced it will allocate more funds to projects to do with the nursing of AIDS-patients as opposed to spending more on research into the desease. This policy was immediately attacked by researchers pleading for more money to be spent on research to come up with a cure for AIDS. Mr. van Rooyen, director of the AIDS-foundation defended the foundation's policy by stating that the foundation only gives supplementary funding with the government and universities providing the bulk of funding for research.
Top of documentANTWERP. South of the border, in the Belgian city of Antwerp, the fifth Belgian Aids memorial day was attended by some 300 people. Flanders' minister for employment and health Reekers presented a charter for companies to sign stating that they will not discriminate against persons who are HIV-prositive. Six companies have signed to date. Antwerp's mayor Mrs. Detiege urged politicians to combat the growing influence of reactionary forces in Belgian politics.
Top of documentTHE HAGUE In reply to questions asked in Dutch parliament by Social Liberal representative Mr. van Boxtel, health-minister Borst has announced that VAT (Value Added Tax) on condoms will be brought down from the current 17.5 % to 6 or even 0 %. This move would follow a similar measure taken by France in 1988 to promote AIDS-prevention. Cutting VAT on condoms would bring the price of the avarage rubber down by some DFl. 0,30 (US$ 0,20).