Bollywood to create AIDS awareness in Delhi

November 26, 2006

NEW DELHI: On World AIDS Day, a galaxy of Bollywood stars, including

Shilpa Shetty and Rahul Bose, will perform in a show here to raise

awareness about preventing HIV infections.

Popular TV actress Mona Singh, best known as Jassi, will perform a

dance number with children choreographed especially by Shamak Davar

at the National Stadium on December one.

Earlier that day, President A P J Kalam will address Members of

Parliament and release a special stamp to commemorate the

occasion. " President Kalam will be addressing MPs and will release

the stamp, " National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) Director

General Sujatha Rao told. She said the evening's cultural show is

planned to educate and create awareness among children and youth

about HIV-AIDS and its implications. " We are organising an

exhibition, laser show, puppetry programmes and pantomimes, which are

the best mediums to catch the attention of young minds, " she

said. " The idea behind the show is to create awareness among people

and to target the youth, " Rao said.

According to NACO, there are 5.2 million HIV-infected people in the

country, with 85.7 per cent of HIV infections through sexual

intercourse. Rao said Kailash Kher will perform at the show along

with many other TV stars.

Rao said apart from the mega-event, which has been jointly organised

by UNAIDS, the NGO Charkha, Hero's Project and other partners, two

mobile vans will be launched to cover over 35 different locations in

the city. " The aim is to draw people out, make them break their

silence and make them talk about issues which they are shy of doing, "

she said. " We will be doing infotainment programmes, organise quiz

shows and give them gifts for right answers and ask them to take a

pledge to protect themselves and their families, " she said. " We want

to promote safe behaviour and practices. " Rao said red ribbon clubs

will also be formed in 72 colleges in Delhi, where students will

pledge to donate blood in future.

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