Orissa to display world's longest banner to mark AIDS Day

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AP World Politics

Indian state to display world's longest banner to mark AIDS Day

Sat Nov 30, 9:40 AM ET

BHUBANESHWAR, India - To mark World AIDS Day on Sunday, an eastern

Indian state plans to unfurl what local officials say is the longest

banner ever.

The banner measures 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long and is printed with

slogans seeking to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention, said

Anjana Chopra, the top AIDS official in Orissa state. The Limca Book

of World Records documents the longest banner measuring 4 1/2

kilometers, Chopra said.

Some 100,000 people — mostly students campaigning to raise awareness

about AIDS — will sign the banner, which will be displayed on the

main street of the state capital, Bhubaneshwar, on Sunday.

Chopra said, however, that the main purpose for making the banner was

to raise awareness and not just to set a record.

About 4 million people in India are affected with HIV, according to

the government. But, some Western agencies warn the disease is

spreading fast in the region and the number could rise to 25 million

by 2010, making India home to the highest number of HIV/AIDS victims

in the world

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