Hyderabad, November 02: Hundreds of medical students and volunteers gathered at Nizam College Grounds on Tuesday morning to observe World AIDS Awareness Day.
The grounds were thronged by volunteers and organisers as they prepared to march through the streets of Hyderabad to show solidarity with victims of HIV and AIDS, and also to promote awareness on how the disease spreads, and how people can protect themselves from it^As of 2009, India has over 2.5 million reported cases of AIDS, which makes it third in the world in terms of absolute numbers. Andhra Pradesh is one of the worst affected States in India, with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS^Tuesday’s rally emerged from a partnership between the Andhra Pradesh AIDS Consortium,
The Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, and the organisation ACE. Together, they consolidated Hyderabad’s 16 private medical colleges as well as State degree colleges, for an impressive showing in the several hundreds^Medical students and volunteers thronged the college grounds as they set about the considerable task of organising and registering the day’s participants^“I feel very strongly about this issue,” said Shloka Reddy, age 19, “I knew someone who had HIV. It’s very important that we support people with HIV and AIDS, to be there for them in their time of need.” “AIDS is not contagious by social contact,” she added, “so one mustn’t treat them any differently, or feel as though you cannot be friends with someone with AIDS.” Krishnan Director of the organisation ACE, who declined to give his last name, remarked, “This is the first time in AP we’ve brought so many medical schools together. The biggest threat of AIDS is to the youth, age 13-21, so we are very happy that so many students came to spread the message.” “We’re showcasing that these people are aware,” Krishnan said and added, “these medical students are really taking the lead. It’s a real show of solidarity.” Dr. Ramesh Reddy of the Andhra Pradesh AIDS Consortium said, “It’s our goal to say to people with HIV that we are there with you.” He remarked, “There is still a stigma attached to AIDS, but it is decreasing. With better education, one finds far less discrimination based upon this disease.”
–Agencies