Standing up and speaking out

Take into account these facts, before going on to read this story… Did you know that there were an estimated, 39.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, at the end of last year? And with 4.3 million being infected newly, with HIV, this has been the highest number of infections in a year (2006)?

In fact, Africa being the worst affected continent in the world, it is reported that there are 13 million children who have been orphaned through AIDS! Did the above seem startling? If not, these facts might just be…

6,000 young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years of age, are infected with HIV per day, which accounts for over half of the new infections. And think about this – there have been 923 reported cases of people who have been infected with HIV, in Sri Lanka, at present. These are just the reported cases, but there could in fact be around 3500 victims in Sri Lanka at present. Out of them, around about 170 have died, but more startlingly, approximately 30, are children and 20 of these children are no longer alive!

Just looking at these statistics we can see how HIV/AIDS is not decreasing, but in fact, is on the rise! Scary? Yes! Very much so! So now the question remains as to "what can be done?" Well as in the case of any disease, prevention is always better than cure, therefore what is necessary right now, more than ever, is awareness in terms of this terrible disease.

With all this in mind, the Hope Youth Foundation, Community Strength Development Foundation and Save Lanka Kids, will be organising an awareness campaign for World Aids Day, their theme being, Stand Up, Speak Out, Stop AIDS!

Speaking to Prabu Deepan, Project Manager, Save Lanka Kids, he said that what they want is to, "Create a strong voice of advocacy in Sri Lanka," adding that they want to educate the youth in order that they will make wise decisions, in the context of the prevention of HIV and AIDS.

A poster campaign will be held leading up to the event, on various themes relating to the topic. The main awareness campaign in itself will be held on December 1, being World Aids Day, at the Vihara Maha Devi Amphi Theatre. This full day's programme will start off with 500 volunteers from various parts of the island coming together. They will be trained for around an hour and will be placed in 20 groups, said Prabu. These groups will then be sent out to different parts of the city to distribute leaflets to try and educate as many people as possible. He said, "They will carry a message of hope on HIV and AIDS," while they intend to distribute up to 10,000 leaflets on this day.

An interesting aspect of the programme will be street drama. Four teams will use the creative arts, humour and drama, relating to various topics on HIV/AIDS, in order to promote awareness and they will be sent into key locations in Colombo. After going around the city, these messengers will meet back at the Amphi Theatre at 4pm, where a ceremony will be organised. At the ceremony various religious leaders and celebrities will address the issue of HIV/AIDS. There will also be a performance by these celebrities, "Which will be a more message than performance centred one," Prabu added.

He went on to say that among those at the programme, will be people who in fact are living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, those who have helped out, contributed and fought hard to prevent the spreading of this disease in the country, will be recognised at the ceremony. Various presentations on the topic of HIV and AIDS will be shown during the programme among which will be a 100 metre banner. This banner will be open to anyone and will be located in the Town Hall area throughout the day. Everyone is invited to paint their ideas, opinions or comments on it, and to voice their thoughts on this deadly disease. The banner will then be displayed at the end of the ceremony. In addition, during the day, a huge ribbon made out of cardboard will be on display, allowing anyone to sign or write any message on it, relating to the disease. "The ribbon is like a petition, it's more of a sign of commitment, where people will sign on it as their commitment to this fight!" he said.

Those living with HIV/AIDS around the world will be commemorated, as the programme ends, with the lighting of a 1000 candles, which Prabu said will be "a symbol of hope!" Save Lanka Kids train students, teachers and the community to be peer educators, since at the end of the day, what they want people to remember is that "it's their life and they have to protect themselves and the people they love…" said Prabu, adding, "what we aim to do through the campaign is to create awareness among people, and advocate on behalf of the people living with HIV and AIDS, to prompt people to stand up for the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, and speak out about HIV and AIDS to stop AIDS."

Therefore, if you want to play a small part in making a difference, it seems everyone is invited to participate and are more than welcome to contact Save Lanka Kids for further information on 251 3865, or visit them at 74, Kirulapone Avenue, Colombo 5 or email them at hivoutreach@gmail.com