The National Poetry Festival 2009 which culminates on March 21st World Poetry Day will deal with the critical issue of HIV and AIDS The theme of the Festival is Defying the Disease through the Power of the Word Resisting Stigma and Discrimination The organisers Idakeda and the Circle of Poets have partnered with the National AIDS Coordinating Committee NACC to put together a week long programme geared at both adults and children with all activities focussing on this theme