World Aids Day 2011

World Aids Day 2011

Thirty years after the first reported case of AIDS was diagnosed , AIDS has reached 33.3 million people who are living with HIV/AIDS  ; it is not an illness anymore but an epidemic of gigantic proportions , a human rights issue. It is not limited to just wearing the iconic red ribbon o releasing red balloons or going to gala charity events to raise money , yes these are all important but we need to remember this epidemic the other 364 days of the year too. We need to stem the path of this virus . We all need to collectively pitch in and pitch in right now . The year 2011 is of decisive action , it says go on Facebook, Twitter, social media networking sights, download posters , spread the information , play on limes games , show solidarity and join the initiative.

Stage your own 'digital death' highlighted by Time Healthland  in which celebrities like Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Kim Kardashian log off twitter, Facebook another social sites for one day . This hunt is to support Alicia Keys charity,'Keep the Child Alive' which provides antiretroviral drugs another medical treatment to children in developing countries who are living with AIDS.

The group also supports caregivers, and orphanages that raise children whose parents have dies due to AIDS.Keys and friends are going 'digitally dead'-logging off media in honor.The aim is to raise one million dollars and has provocative ads which are made to entice with teasing one-liners and gain support. You and I are nothing but show solidarity . Every vote counts or if you can't survive without tweeting or posting a status, well mr Money bags just donate generously.

We all need to understand the science and technology have advanced rapidly that AIDS is not a deaths entence anymore but a virus which can be dealt with a cocktail of drugs and a focussed will power. Antiretroviral drugs which are now accessed by 50% of people has reduced the fatality rate .The number of deaths is 1.8 million deaths this year , the lowest since its peak in 2005.

AIDS had reached its peak due to injectable drug use, men having sex with men , female sex worker, migrant labor, truck drivers , blood transfusions , and heterosexual people are affected to.

The digital era has an interesting offer too-Play the AIDS challenge,Play online, even tweet your score(#AVERTAIDS CHALLENGE ) .World AIDS day reminds us to raise money , increase awareness, fight prejudice,and improve education awareness. This day is paramount as it reminds us of the significance of the threat and that we should not forget that this virus has gone away but is omnipresent at all times. The UNO,WHO,ILO, all are working hand in hand with countries all around the globe to stop this menace. The ILO has a 'Getting To Zero' poster which should due downloaded and put in industries, factories . The posters highlight that there should be no discrimination,or stigmitization of workers on grounds of real or perceived status .Workplaces, should facilitate access to HIV prevention, treatment , care and support. Privacy should be maintained and screening of workers should not be made mandatory.That is an infringement of privacy of an individual.

Closer home, in Jalandhar City we have a humanitarian Prof Lakhvir Singh who is the President of a NGO , Pahal is working in the Tehsil Nakodar of Jalandhar district specifically where they have set up a 5 member committee ,where they have a TARGET INTENTION  to assess the IMPACT. They are targeting the high risk group and are preventing the by behavior motivation.In  an interview he says, that high risk group are truckers, adolescence, sex workers, and drug users in Punjab. He further retreats that the situations serious and alarming. 

The aim today is to hold widespread rally in the Jalandhar City to highlight and pinpoint the causes which can be prevented by behavior motivation . Prof. Lakhvir Singh , passes on a message that ,"we should stick to Indian values and the family culture and philosophical way of life of elders which was holistic and spiritual."

The vulnerability he says lies in the 15-25 years age group in India where there is maximum proportion of population." 

Do you feel the government is helping out in the AIDS program?

Yes, the government supports the ventures of accredited NGO's. NACO (National Aids Control Agency)  and NGO's all work hand in hand to reach out intensively for reaching the high risk group . This in turn will lead to target intervention. They have a sufficient budget to fund their work and research. 

He has a message for the parents of today , that the present generations vulnerable and susceptible , that the parents of today need to take care of their children not only in school but in colleges to. They are gullible and prone to falling to the trap where they try out or give in to hormones. Parents need to raise their children in holistic manner, holistic means that they should revert back to the Indian values of the yore. They are not even aware of what their children do in colleges , in fact there should be a PTM ( Parent Teachers Meeting ) in colleges to keep alive the interaction .

Educational and religious, social , political parties, should come forward to deal with this problem . His endeavor is honored and we hope that soon we might stem and eradicate this virus completely . 

Ravneet Sangha