Like a demon, AIDS has killed more than 25 million people worldwide between 1981 and 2007. It has been recognized as one of the worst diseases for the mankind. Seeing the severity of the disease, Jonathan Mann, director of the Global Programme on Aids at the World Health Organization (WHO) propounded the concept of World AIDS Day. Consequently, WHO declared December 1, 1988 as the first World Aids Day.
On Dec 1, 2008, the World AIDS Day completed its 20th anniversary. This gives us an opportunity to assess how much progress has been made by India in the direction of AIDS awareness and its prevention. I must admit that our government, several NGOs, and charitable institutions have made AIDS awareness campaign a big success during the last two decades. This has been possible also due to the involvement of international organizations and WHO in the various campaigns related to AIDS.
Today, it is common to find numerous TV advertisements that are aimed at making every common Indian aware of this deadly disease. The most interesting feature of these TV Ads is their boldness, which until recently was considered to be unacceptable for the Indian audience. Now, condom ads are no more a taboo in our society. Today, every Indian has understood the importance of AIDS awareness. Big hoardings and posters, informing people about different ways of contacting HIV and preventive steps for the same, are found to be displayed at bus stations, railway platforms, streets, shops, medical stores, hospitals, and so on.
The success that we have achieved so far, however seems small when compared to that achieved by the developed countries and many other developing countries. We may have become tolerant towards advertisements featuring the factors that cause transmission of the deadly HIV virus, but somewhere deep in our heart, we do not acknowledge the fact of getting our children know about it thoroughly. Even today, there are many families that either switch off their TV sets or press the mute button whenever there is an advertisement related to AIDS. For them, viewing such advertisements with the whole family is against our culture or tradition. This is only one aspect where we need to work upon. There are other issues as well.
Even today, an HIV positive person has to undergo social boycott, and that too from his/her own people. Recently, there have been also a few instances, where an AIDS victim has been beaten up or thrown out of the village by his neighbours. And, who will forget the controversial Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty kiss? It was sad to see that our media gave their full attention to the 'kiss' and not the cause of the function. Richard Gere was here to address an AIDS awareness campaign. However, the whole nation simply ignored it and talked only about how he hurt the sentiments of our countrymen.
There is indeed a long way to go.
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