World AIDS Day -2006 Commemoration by DSACS

[Guest guest]

WORLD AIDS DAY CAMPAIGN 2006

DSACS (Delhi State AIDS Control Society) is commemorating WAD in the

form of campaign comprising of the following activities.

• `Take Control' an event organized at JMI (Jamia Milia

Islamia on 28th November 2006)

• Inauguration of a Community Care Home at Khera Khurd, North

West Delhi at 10:30 AM on 1st December 2006

• Launch of a 6 days Intensive Testing Campaign through MITWA

(Mobile Integrated Testing and Wellness Access)40 mobile vans in

all constituencies of Delhi from 2nd to 8th December 2006

• Activities along with other partners (NACO, UNAIDS, RCSHA,

CHARCA)

Series of youth centric infotainment activities through

mobile floats in colleges, malls and PVRs/ Cineplex's from 25th to

30th November 2006

A mega event on 1st December 2006 from 5:00 PM onwards at

National Stadium.

`Take Control' an event organized at JMI (Jamia Milia Islamia on

28th Nov. 2006)

As a part of WAD Campaign DSACS and NSS, Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI)

organized an event `Take Control' at JMI on 28th November 2006. The

event was inaugurated by Hon'ble Minister of Health and Social

Welfare. Youth from the university and other colleges symbolically

joined Pledge 25 Clubs to promote voluntary blood donation and HIV

AIDS awareness. A poster competition, skits and musical items were

organized. A public lecture on " Inter religious and family values

based approach to HIV AIDS Awareness and Prevention " was given by Dr

Robbert S Kittel, National Director Universal Peace Federation of

India. The youth at the event also interacted with Persons living

with HIV AIDS was the part of the programme. It was attended by 3000

youth.

Inauguration of a Community Care Home at Khera Khurd on 1st Dec,

2006 by Hon'ble Chief Minister of GNCTD.

On the occasion of WAD, a 10 bedded Community Care Home for PLHAs

(People Living with HIV AIDS) would be inaugurated by Hon'ble Chief

Minister of GNCTD in Khera Khurd, in the august presence of Hon'ble

Minister of Health and Social welfare. This facility will run

through NGO partner of DSACS, Child Survival India so that the PLHAs

living in this part of the city can access its services. Services

that will be made available include shelter, nutritional care &

support, nursing care & enabling environment, recreational

facilities, spiritual discourse, referral services, linkage with

other social welfare organization, and training of community based

organizations in care of HIV/AIDS patients.

Launch of a 6 days Intensive Testing Campaign through MITWA (Mobile

Integrated Testing and Wellness Access) mobile vans in all

constituencies of Delhi from 2nd to 8th December 2006

On 1st Dec, 2006 Hon'ble Chief Minister of GNCTD in presence of

Hon'ble Minister of Health and Social Welfare, GNCTD will launch the

Extended Mobile Integrated Testing and Wellness Access (MITWA) by

flagging off the mobile vans from Khera Khurd. This six days

Intensive Testing Campaign (From 2nd December 2006 to 8th December

2006) shall cover all the consistencies of Delhi with respect to

Slums, JJ Clusters, and High Risk Areas. As the population residing

in these areas are more vulnerable to the disease due to lack of

awareness and high risk behaviour so testing services are being

outreach in these areas. The umbrella theme behind the campaign

is " Know your HIV Status "

For the Campaign 45 vans including 12 existing MITWA vans will be

sent out to various parts of the city. These are manned by teams

from 33 Targeted Intervention Partners (NGOs) and counselor and

technician from VCTC/PPCTC/ICTC. These vans will conduct outreach at

two locations of one Constituency in a day starting from 2.00 PM to

7.00 PM and the same locations will be repeated for follow up

activities. The activities of the campaign would be awareness of

HIV/AIDS, Pre and post test Counseling and Sample collection for

HIV, providing HIV testing report on the day of follow up,

distribution of IEC Material and Condoms, conducting IEC Activity

i.e. Nukkad Natak and Munadi.

Series of youth centric infotainment activities through mobile

floats in colleges, malls and PVRs/ Cineplex's from 25th to 30th

November 2006

The youth centric activities for WAD were also carried by DSACS by

partnering with NACO and other UN agencies through mobile floats

which spread the key messages of HIV AIDS prevention through the

medium of infotainment in colleges, malls and PVRs/ Cineplex's from

25th to 29th November 2006. These floats went to close to 40

locations in various parts of the city which are frequented by youth

and conducted quiz on HIV AIDS, distributed Red Ribbons and IEC

material on HIV AIDS and urged the youth to become regular voluntary

donors and keep themselves free from HIV AIDS. These events were

also meant to be a fore-runner to the mega event and passes for mega

event were also distributed through this float.

Mega event on 1st December 2006 from 5:00 PM onwards at National

Stadium

The youth centric activities by DSACS under the banner of WAD

Campaign would be culminated with a mega event on 1st December 2006

from 5:00 PM at National Stadium. The programme which DSACS is

partnering with NACO and other UN agencies included UNAIDS award

ceremony for the Civil Society Organizations who have contributed to

the field of HIV AIDS and infotainment programme with celebrities

from the cinema and television and a musical show. In this programme

galaxy of Bollywood stars, including Shilpa Shetty and Rahul Bose,

will perform 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. There would be a

performance by the popular singer Kailash Kher. The programme will

be attended by many dignitaries like Union Health Minister, Young

parliamentarians and other dignitaries.

Kapoor JP

e-mail: <jpkapoor@...>