New AIDS course now at IGNOU

October 21, 2004

Ashima Bajpai, October 20

An effort to root out ignorance had been made by the Gender Training

Institute (GTI), a wing of Centre for Social Research (CSR) almost a

year back.

Their HIV AIDS awareness campaign was spread over four urban slums

of Delhi namely Chhatapur, Trilokpuri, Palam Gaon and Sangam Vihar.

If a survey conducted among slum children is to be believed, 36 per

cent boys and 30 per cent girls are under the impression that AIDS

is curable. Ignorance about aids and hesitation to talk about sex

related issues are common problems in slums across India.

Adolescents in slums think that it is a taboo to talk about sex and

AIDS.

Two out of forty children at each CSR centre who attended the

programme are going to get the opportunity to study further on the

issue. They are all set to get admission in the course `Certificate

in HIV and Family Planning' at IGNOU.

As many as 20 boys and 20 girls in the age group of 10 to 17 were

chosen from the four areas to be part of the programme.

Various activities such as street plays were undertaken to spread

the message. The attention was focussed on the myths related to

AIDS, its spread and prevention.

The concluding activity of the workshop was in the form of an art

competition held on Tuesday. Children were asked to make posters

that could help spread the message of AIDS.

" We have organised this competition to see how much they have

comprehended of the issue in the past one year, " said Renu Suri,

director of GTI.

" At the beginning I observed a certain hesitation to speak on the

issue of AIDS. Today I can see that the level has gone down

drastically, " she added.

Most of the children confessed that they were under a lot of

misconceptions regarding AIDS.

" Initially I had my doubts whether AIBDS spreads through a hand

shake or a sneeze but now I know they are all myths, " said Amit, a

16- year old-participant.

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