Marching against AIDS

IT WAS a day set aside to highlight the pain and agony of HIV positive patients world over. The message was simple, 'Prevention is the only Cure' and 'AIDS patients have the right to lead a normal life'. This message was given by none other but a group of HIV Positive People Network on the occasion of World AIDS Day, on Friday. The members of HIV Positive People Network along with District AIDS Control Society Health Department, Hindustan Construction Company and Care workers, gathered at the Subhash crossing, Civil Lines, to take out a massive cycle rally.

IT WAS a day set aside to highlight the pain and agony of HIV positive patients world over. The message was simple, 'Prevention is the only Cure' and 'AIDS patients have the right to lead a normal life'. This message was given by none other but a group of HIV Positive People Network on the occasion of World AIDS Day, on Friday.

HT Image

The members of HIV Positive People Network along with District AIDS Control Society Health Department, Hindustan Construction Company and Care workers, gathered at the Subhash crossing, Civil Lines, to take out a massive cycle rally.

Mayor Chaudhary Jitendra Nath Singh flagged off the rally.

The rally, led by CMO Dr Shantimal Singhavi and District AIDS Programme officer Dr Kalim Akmal, passed through Johnstonganj, Chowk, Ghantaghar, Meerganj, Bahadurganj, Kotha Parcha, Rambagh, Medical College Crossing, Balson crossing, Anand Bhawan, Vikas Bhawan, SSP office and concluded at the CMO office.

About 500 volunteers including HIV positive men and women, NCC cadets, Lok Smriti Sewa Sansthan, Swarga and Sarvajan Kalyan Samiti members participated in the rally. They carried posters to inform people about the symptoms of HIV and ways to prevent it.

They requested the people to support AIDS awareness programme. They also asked the people with HIV symptoms to consult a doctor and get their HIV tests done. Also present on the occasion was Sudhanshu Trivedi of Care.

Care and Hindustan Construction Company will also organise a candle light meeting at the Colvin Hospital, in the evening. DM Amrit Abhijat would preside over the meeting. A documentary on HIV would also be screened on the occasion for general public, informed Care's NGO coordinator Geeta Biswas.

MLN Medical College: A large number of medical students, senior teachers and head of departments of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College on Friday also joined the battle against HIV/AIDS, which has afflicted millions of population world over.

Sporting 'Red Ribbon' a symbol of HIV/AIDS, they took out AIDS awareness rally from Central Hall, MLN Medical College. Commissioner Allahabad Division RN Tripathi flagged off the rally with the message to jointly fight the battle against HIV. The rally, led by RN Tripathi, Principal MLN Medical College Dr PC Saxena, Dr KG Singh and other senior teachers passed through the Hanuman temple crossing Civil Lines and concluded at the medical college.

The students carried placards with the message to stop the death trail of HIV and respect people living with HIV. The rally was organised by Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. It was also participated by Head of Microbiology Department Dr Anudita Bhargava.