India & Australia battling AIDS stigma together

[Guest guest]

A Report on AIDS Awareness Programme at Anduku - Tanda - Warangal District-A.P.

An article featured in the Deccan Herald on Thursday 26 August, 2004 reported

on two women who were victimized on account of a social boycott by a community

engulfed with the fear of HIV/AIDS . These two women extended their helping

hand to Bukhya Sharada who confided to them her positive status. The panchayat

decreed that the two women should not enter their home village .Representations

made on behalf of the women by a few community groups did not deter the decision

of the panchayat.

The story was circulated in the AIDS India e forum,

[] catching the eye of

Haill of The Australian AIDS Fund who then appealed for help to intervene in the

situation.

The Freedom Foundation promptly responded and immediately got in touch with the

concerned authorities and arranged to conduct an awareness programme which was

duly held on October 6.

Report on the awareness programme.

The venue of the programme was the Anduku-TANDA, a tribal hamlet situated around

220 km from Hyderabad. Proud of its scenic beauty it is a strong fort for the

Peoples War Group- " The Naxals " .

The awareness team consisted of 3 representatives from Freedom Foundation and

six members from an NGO called Nrityanjali.This NGO sensitizes the communities

through its cultural programmes like dance, dramas and songs.

The district Anduku Tanda - which consists of 300 population, a majority of the

residents are engaged in agriculture and their literacy rate is close to 50%.

The local police sub inspector Mr.Shiveramiah made all the necessary

arrangements for the programme which was held at the Govt. Upper Primary School

where around 400 people (Men, women and children from the neighboring hamlets)

were present.

The SubDivisional PoliceOfficer, integrated child developmental officer, revenue

officer and the press were also there.

The programme began with a welcome note by Mr.Srinivas from Nrityanjali.

Mr. from Freedom Foundation gave a brief insight into the different

components involved in the care and support of HIV/AIDS, concentrating on the

myths and misconceptions attached to the pandemic and the modes of transmission.

In an effort to ward off any fears of the epidemic from the minds of the people

he willingly answered their queries.

The Sub Divisional Police Officer Mr.Veerabhadra Rao shared with the people on

the different modes of transmission and how positive people need to be

integrated into the society.

The Mandal Development Officer Mr. Vidyasagar highlighted the role of Govt

Officers and civil societies to promote advocacy and educate the society in an

endeavor to reduce spread of the pandemic.

A women living with HIV/AIDS who was a member of the cultural team from

Nrityanjali gave a very vivid presentation on the legal issues of HIV/AIDS,

right of positive people and human rights .She gave her first hand experience on

how her life is now steering the positive way of living.

The cultural team of Nrityanjali Academy presented awareness messages through

songs, skits and lectures.

The team sang songs in the local dialect conveying messages on various aspects

of HIV, importance of primary education, etc.

This made a lasting impression in the minds of the people present. They depicted

the myths and misconceptions through dramas and short dialogues.

The people present received brochure on Behavioral change communication .It was

a pictorial representation of the different approaches a person needs to adopt

to change his/her present behaviour.

The general response was very encouraging and the police personnel and youth of

the vicinity felt the need to spread the awareness on the rampant spread of the

pandemic.

The programme closed with an expression of gratitude and an assurance from the

people that they would take on the responsibility to create awareness in the

near by hamlets.

_________________________________

Haill

E-mail: <bhaill@...>