NAMCHI, April 30: Awareness initiatives on HIV/ AIDS by doctors and other social bodies are widespread, but when the same is being conducted by patients of HIV/ AIDS themselves, it certainly calls for a wider spectrum of listeners.
The same today came about with three HIV positive patients from West Bengal sharing their experiences and views with participants of an HIV/ AIDS awareness programme held at St Peter’s Catholic Church, Tharpu in Namchi. The awareness programme organised by NGO Pragati, Social Service Society of Sikkim (PSSS) of Gangtok today was participated by around 185 group leaders of Self Help Group (SHGs).
The programme named ‘Community’s Role in HIV/ AIDS Awareness Programme’ turned interesting when the participants learnt about the symptoms of HIV/ AIDS, its prevention and its affect in one’s normal life. This special feature of today’s programme – witness by HIV positive patients was received with high admiration by all the participants of the day.
The programme today was attended by the HIV positive patients including a woman and two male counterparts. To make the SHGs aware of HIV/ AIDS, the other resource persons from Anugralaya and Shaker Foundation, Darjeeling also shared their views.
The resource persons educated the participants (of which most were women) on various topics on HIV/ AIDS like, what is HIV/ AIDS, how it occurs, its prevention, treatments, our attitude and responsibilities towards the HIV/ AIDS affected patients and ways of removing social stigmas.
Sikkim Served Fresh Daily
