Around 400+ gather in Jantar Mantar for Candlelight Vigil

[Guest guest]

A part of " GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION " on 21st 2006 Sunday evening at

7:30- 8:30pm around 400 people from Delhi Network of Positive People

and various NGOs gather in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi to observed and

give honour to PLHAs who already died because of AIDS and and held

India Govt. accountable and to keep their promises to treat PLHAs

and demanding Universal Access.

The Programme started at 7:30 pm, Mr. Naveen Kumar give a welcome

speech, Mr. Mike Tonsing Vice President (DNP+) highlight the " Issues

of Accessing Treatment in India, Ms. Nisha give a speech on problem

face by HIV+ women. Mr. Hari Shankar talk about frequent interrupted

supply of EFV in New Delhi and Mr. Hari Singh shared about the

problem he face in buying Second Line ARV drugs, after that one

minute silent to honour of those lost to AIDS. Mr. Luke Samson,

Director of Sharan Light the candle followed by silent procession to

Jantar Mantar.

In Solidarity

Mike Tonsing

Delhi Network of Positive People

+ 91 9873015978

e-mail: <mtonsing2003@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

I have just gone through Mike's brief account of Candle Light gathering and

procession at Jantar Mantar on 21st May,06.

I feel these types of activities are very important for not only telling our

countrymen what valuable lives we are losing by the malady of HIV/AIDS but also

the anormous unfinished task of providing treatment to the HIV+ who are still

suffering and the dire need to scale up the efforts for protecting those who are

so

vulnerable.

I have a humble association with twice-yearly candle light functions in Zambiain

Africa. One function waw held at this point of time spearheaded by the hiv+

franternity and the other one organised by the Church of Zambia.sometime in

November, throughout the

country.

I was part of the Zambian National AIDS organisation deputed there as UNDP/IEC

Specialsit for HIV/AIDS at the national level. For both the activities, we were

taking very active part including all type of

assistance and support for spreading the message far and wide including media

coverage.

A community candle light march was also undertaken involving different religious

representatives, who turn by turn read from their respective scriptures praying

for peace for the departed souls and bringing home the message of kindness and

tolerance all around,

hitting hard at social stigma against HIV/AIDS.

The national event, predominantly a church-led affair, was well-orchestrated

event generally presided over by the national President/Vice President and some

such big wigs involving a number of donors and international agencies, voluntary

sectors, and stake

holders. This event though a participative function, was mostly the handiwork of

a single devoted church functionary, Sr. Luzia, Wetzel with whom I had the good

luck of networking very closely.

I am aware, Zambia is a small country and the prevalence rate being much highter

than India. It is easier to hold such activities with a single predominat Faith

leadership. Nevertheless community mobilisation anywhere needs to be done with

Zealousness and commitment. The suffering around us is not a put-on act that can

be taken lightly. Our religious leaders of all faiths have to answer the

call of times.

These candle light events can be translated into very potential vehicles of

raising awareness and message delivery about the agonies faced by the positive

people and need to extending treatment facitilites to all. It can serve as major

fora for a call to people

of all walks of life to join the fight against HIV/AIDS in whatever manner they

can.

sincerely,

Prayers

Amrik Kapoor

NEW DELHI.

e-mail: <amriksingh35@...>