International AIDS Candlelight Memorial day in Patna

[Guest guest]

THE 18TH INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL DAY

In association with kurji holy family community health centre

Patna MAY 20: 200 marchers including two representatives of Calcutta NGO

" Integration " marched through the streets of Patna to draw attention to the

spreadi of AIDS through Bihar. AIDS Candlelight Memorial was observed in the

city by Advocacy for Alternatives, Sexuality, Reproductive Health and AIDS in

collaboration with Kurji Holy family Hospital. A number of organisations

supported the observance like State bank of India, Round Table 91, Punjab

National Bank. The State AIDS Society was also represented.

Later, a cultural programme was organised at Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir, in

which AIDS related readings and poetry, as well as cultural items by the nurses

of KHFH and members of the All India Anglo Indian Association featured. The

highlight of the programme was the santoor recital from Indrajit Mazumdar with

Dr Shyam Mohan on the tabla.

Sister Joan, Administrator of Kurji Holy Family Hospital, while recognising the

dangers that HIV poses for health and medical personnel, called for a more

humane and understanding treatment of HIV positive people.

Dr Dilip Sen, in his keynote address called upon one and all to understand the

various issues surrounding HIV, and called for accurate reporting of HIV related

figures.

LIVE AID announced. GM telephones Mr Jagannath Bhakta announced the start of a

new person to person counselling service for people with questions about

HIV/AIDS management, and related issues. The telephone service has been a

donation by youth who earned money for the phone installation through

participating in the Pulse Polio programme.

Tabler Naren Hirani. Chairman of Patliputra Round Table 91 underlined his

organisations support to the cause and said that AIDs, being a deadly disease is

capable of being controlled to a certain extent, and creating awareness among

people is more important at the moment. He said that it was a privilege for

Patliputra Round Table 91 to be associated with AASRA.

Pawan Dhall, secretary of Integration, a Calcutta NGO working on sexuality and

HIV/AIDS among marginalized populations and men who have sex with men, said that

Integration joined the march to express solidarity with AASRA, the only social

organisation in Bihar to advocate the rights and dignity of people from

alternative sexualities. It is only when society recognises and accepts

'alternative people and lifestyles' that a pragmatic AIDS management programme

can be developed.

CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION: 500 red candles were carried in procession from

Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir towads JP Golambar. The short ceremony at the JP

statue commemorated those who had died of HIV/AIDS. The ceremony was inaugurated

by eminent surgeon Dr. Hai.

BIRENDRA KR SONI, YOUTH COORDINATOR,

AASRA.

E-mail <aasra@...>