Participants highlight collective responsibility, put communities at the forefront

Mysore/Mysuru: Students from various nursing, pharmacy colleges and educational institutions in the city had organised a rally (jatha) to observe World AIDS Day yesterday.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day celebration is ‘Communities Lead the Way,’ recognising the challenges of completely curing the disease but emphasising the potential for affected individuals to lead a quality life through proper medication and a healthy lifestyle.

The event was conducted collaboratively by several organisations, including the Mysuru District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, Health and Family Welfare Department, Karnataka and Mysuru AIDS Prevention and Control Society, Mysuru District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Lions Blood Bank Jeevadhara, Asha Kirana Hospital, Ananda Jyothi Positive Network, Ashodaya Samiti, Swamy Vivekananda Youth Movement, Chaitanya Rural Development Society, Link Workers Scheme, Guard, Mysore Association of Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Clinics and Diagnostic Centres (MAHAN) and Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Senior Civil Judge and Member-Secretary of Mysuru DLSA B.G. Dinesh, inaugurated the rally at Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple premises, with over 250 participants. The rally moved through K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road, Dhanvantri Road, concluding at J.K. Grounds, where a stage programme was organised at the Platinum Jubilee Hall of the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI).

The rally aimed to emphasise the collective responsibility of citizens and youth in increasing awareness about HIV/ AIDS prevention. Participants held placards calling for a united struggle to create awareness and prevent AIDS, highlighting that the disease is not an individual problem but a societal challenge that can be resolved through collective effort.

During the stage programme, Krishnaraja (KR) MLA T.S. Srivatsa underscored the importance of high awareness about HIV/ AIDS, extending its significance beyond rural areas to include lower-income communities.

He noted the positive transformation in society’s perception of individuals infected with HIV, attributing it to increased awareness and societal progress.

Srivatsa acknowledged the historical social stigma, fear and suicide associated with HIV infection but highlighted the positive impact of Government and self-help organisation programmes in stabilising the mental state of HIV-infected individuals.

Children, often innocent victims, bear a disproportionate burden of HIV/ AIDS and Srivatsa stressed the crucial need to recognise and appreciate the dedicated work of private and self-help organisations. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, he commended the Health Department’s tireless efforts and expressed support for appointing ASHA workers and other health volunteers as permanent Health Department staff.

Zilla Panchayat CEO K.M. Gayathri recognised the transformation of HIV/ AIDS from a taboo subject in 1986 to a topic openly discussed through awareness programmes and workshops. She underlined the importance of active participation in World AIDS Day events, providing a platform to openly discuss HIV-related issues and learn from the experiences of those affected.

Key officials present at the event included District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. P.C. Kumaraswamy, IMA President and Reproductive and Child Health Officer (RCHO) Dr. Jayanth, Girish of Lions Jeevadhara, District AIDS Control Officer Dr. Mohammad Siraj Ahmed, among others.