A long procession with banners showing “ Getting to Zero” was taken on Gopannapalem main road by the health workers, AIDS surferers and students of the neighboring educational institutions all wearing red ribbons, to mark the WORLD AIDS Day on December 1 at Eluru city
This year the theme of the World AIDS DAY: ” Getting to Zero” signifies the hope of having zero new infections, zero discriminations and zero aid- related deaths, the presenter stated.
The celebration is a call to the people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their solidarity for AIDS sufferers and mourn people who have been a victim of the sickness in the past, said Ms. M. Mary, ART (antiretroviral treatment) Counselor, of the Government Health Programme in the district of West Godavary, AP.
The celebration aims to increase awareness, prevent the spread, eliminate discrimination, stigma and prejudice, promote and protect the rights of those vulnerable, ensure the highest possible quality of life, and provide care and support to individuals, said Sr. Brigit, MSI, the administrator of the DLC hospital.
The procession then reached the DLC Hospital and gathered in the multipurpose hall for an assembly and sharing.
The District Senior Civil Judge, Mr. Narashima Rao chaired the meeting.
In his inaugural talk he said he is responsible to solve justice issues in the West Godavari District , regarding also the people affected by terminal diseases hence he felt privileged to preside over the World Aids Day Celebration in Eluru under the umbrella of the Damien Leprosy.
He also exhorted the students assembled to eat healthy food and do the regular body exercises and also keep themselves occupied with studies and spiritual quests. Mistakes at this stage may cost them their happiness and growth in life, he cautioned.
Fr. Moses, the Director of the social service centre of Eluru diocese, blessed the assembly with his words of felicitation for the celebration. We rejoice today for the considerable reduction in the AIDS cases and for the better awareness of the same in our society. There is more help available to those who seek it, he stated.
He too advised the young people to take their life into their hands and not play with their future.
Diligence in studies, prayer, yoga practice, hard work and discipline in life keeps one pure in mind and body, he added.
Speaking to the patients, the pediatrician, Dr. Prasad Rao who is a regular constant of the DLC centre for the care of the inmates, congratulated the Nirmala sisters for their selfless service to the society and recalled late Sr. Ida , MSI, the Italian pioneer and founder of the Fr. Manna Children’s home in the DLC centre. We need to emulate her inspiring life witness, he said.
Ms Mary detailed the history of the World AIDS Day stating that the since 1988, to today, December 1 marks the celebration of World AIDS Day.
UNAIDS at the end of the year 2014 had identified an estimated 36.9 million people around the world who are living with this sickness and 1.2 million people have died with AIDs related sickness so far, the speaker noted.
“HIV transmission through sexual activity – both heterosexuals and homosexuals has been increasing over the years. “A further breakdown of the statistics has also revealed that the number of homosexual sex is going up faster than heterosexual sex. UNAIDS has predicted that, if nothing is done, homosexual sex will become the most common cause of HIV transmission in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020,”she further stressed.
She expressed happiness as in Andhra Pradesh the cases related to the HIV/AIDS have come down to 15./. in these years and exhorted the listeners to take great precautions to keep pure their body, mind and spirit so that they may be always healthy and happy.
The inmates of Dr. Celine Memorial Home, an attached shelter for the AIDS orphans presented a lively programme on the stage to enthrall the audience and were presented with various gifts and awards to mark the day..
Although HIV is not curable, it is treatable. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also confident that it will end the AIDS epidemic in the future,” said Fr. Bala the former Director of the Dental College of Eluru as he distributed rice and fruits to over hundred families of the affected population in the Eluru zone who attended the Celebration of the World AIDS Day in the DLC centre.