Alliance India and partners mark World AIDS Day
29 January 2008
India HIV/AIDS Alliance organised a number of activities to mark World AIDS Day 2007, focusing on leadership development for children living with and affected by HIV, and on HIV mainstreaming. The success of the events was attributed to partnership building and the solidarity of organisations working in the field of HIV.
Reaching out to young people in Delhi
Alliance India in Delhi took the lead in organising an event on 4 December focusing on young people. More than 700 young people, both in and out of school, congregated at Ansal Plaza to pledge their leadership to stop AIDS and end all forms of discrimination against those living with HIV.
A youth rock band opened the event, setting the tempo and involving the audience. A magician followed, playing tricks and educating the audience about HIV. A skit performed by children who are not attending school emphasised the right to dignity and wellbeing for children living with HIV.
Young people shared their opinions on sex education in schools. They reconfirmed the need for HIV education. “We may be informed about sex but we need to be educated about it,” declared an 11th grader loud and clear.
The programme reached out to schools that do not have HIV education programmes and allowed children in and out of school to interact with each other and refresh their knowledge on HIV. The general feeling among the young people attending the event was that there should be more HIV awareness programmes in public places.
The event was organised in collaboration with UNESCO, Save the Children, PLAN, CARE, Red FM and Modicare Foundation.
Alliance partners’ activities
Alliance India’s partners also observed World AIDS Day across the country.
Delhi
MAMTA Health Institute for Women and Children in Delhi organised a meeting between children living with and affected by HIV, Delhi State AIDS Control Society, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Hyderabad
In Hyderabad, a consortium of Global Fund sub-recipients, Vasavya Mahila Mandali, LEPRA, PLAN and the Alliance for AIDS Action, participated in a State Level programme with the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society. The organisations exhibited art by children living with or affected by HIV. The pictures mainly focused on children and showed modes of transmission, HIV prevention, positive living, care and support, and stigma and discrimination. One of the events main attractions was Vasavya Mahila Mandali’s mobile exhibition showing information, education, and communication materials and home and community based support publications.
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. Y.S.Rajashekar Reddy visited the exhibition, and children presented an appeal to the minister calling on adults to take the lead to ensure a safe and secure future, including an HIV-free world. Over 100 out-of-school children, and 200 school children participated in the event, along with 50 teachers.
The Hyderabad Hub, made up of organisations working in the field of HIV, marked World AIDS Day by calling for awareness of, support and solidarity for people living with HIV. Over 5,000 people living with HIV from across the state gathered on 7 December to share their concerns and hopes. The Alliance for AIDS Action supported 1,000 community members with transport and food for their stay in Hyderabad.
The event provided the Alliance with a platform to build its profile with the media and other stakeholders and strengthened networking and links with government and politicians. It was also an opportunity for community members to learn about Alliance for AIDS Action projects.
Manipur
In Manipur, Alliance State partner, Social Awareness Service Organization (SASO) organised a four day campaign starting on 30 November, which saw SASO teams visiting institutions in Imphal East and West and Thouba districts to interact with young people, especially students. Activities included campus talks on nutrition for people living with HIV, and a workshop on harm reduction. The team were encouraged that many of the young people had a good understanding of HIV prevention.
The harm reduction workshop discussed needle exchange programmes and substitution therapy in the context of HIV prevention. Recommendations from the workshop included reaching clarity on harm reduction philosophies, reviewing the state AIDS policy, and improving harm reduction programmes by identifying gaps – for example including female injecting drug users.
