By: Felix Anthony
Miao: In an effort to spread awareness among the students on AIDS and HIV, Newman School Neotan in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh held an awareness rally, celebrating the World AIDS Day on 1 December 2016.
Rev. Sr. Mini Cyriac CM, the Health Coordinator of East Arunachal Pradesh addressed the students on this occasion.
Explaining the students on the causes and symptoms, she told the students to take good care of oneself and others to prevent from getting infected with HIV. You should not be afraid but should spread awareness among your parents, relatives and friends about the spread of AIDS and HIV, she said.
“You should hate HIV but not the people with HIV because they need more care and love”, she told the students.
The students also put up a small dance drama to drive home the message of accepting and loving the HIV patients. They went around the villages with red ribbon on their sleeves and placards with messages on caring for the HIV patients.
Fr. Felix, the Principal of the School, explaining to the students the meaning of red ribbon said that it is not enough to pin up a red ribbon today. “We must strive to remove the social stigma attached to HIV. In most cases the cause of HIV is not the virus but ignorance. We must be aware first and also help others to become aware of this”, he told the students.
In the wake of sharp rise in the HIV cases in North East India, especially in Nagaland and Manipur, one hopes that awareness among the students will help prevent its spread in Arunachal Pradesh and other parts of North East India