Kumbh Mela becomes focal point for AIDS awareness

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Kumbh Mela becomes focal point for AIDS awareness

Allahabad, Jan 20 (ANI): The 'Ardh Kumbh Mela' or Half Pitcher

Festival here in Allahabad has become the focal point for various

social groups to make people aware of the dangers posed by HIV-

AIDS.While taking part in the religious rituals associated with the

festival, the activists also used the opportunity to inform pilgrims

about the dangers of HIV-AIDS by distributing awareness

material.Activists of an NGO (non-governmental organisation)

called 'Shubhikha' organized an awareness exhibition, to put their

point across.

" I am HIV-positive. However, I inaugurated the exhibition. It was

very empowering, getting respect from the society, though I am not

even educated. It is good to get other people's support while going

through this ordeal, " said Puja Yadav.

Activists said the profile of the Kumbh turnout cuts across regions

and economic sections of India, making for a great target group and

also since crores of people descend here, it becomes a single window

to make people aware.

" Millions of people come here to participate in the Ardh Kumbh fair,

the whole idea is to take advantage of the sheer size of the group we

can target for sensitization. We will continue the awareness

programme for at least one month, " said Naresh Yadav, an AIDS

activist, who has pitched his tent along the riverbed of the

confluence of River Ganga, River Yamuna and the mystic river

Saraswati, as a Hindu devotee would do.

Last year, UNAIDS, the U.N.'s AIDS prevention agency, said there were

an estimated 5.7 million Indians living with the deadly virus at the

end of 2005, more than in any other country and ahead of South

Africa's 5.5 million cases.

However, government have dismissed the figure, saying the number of

infections stood at an estimated 5.2 million.

The epidemic appears to be stable or diminishing in some parts of the

country while growing modestly in others, mainly through heterosexual

sex. (ANI)

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/105318.php/Kumbh-Mela-becomes-focal-

point-for-AIDS-awareness