Coimbatore, Dec. 1
In connection with World AIDS day, Coimbatore District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit in association with Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society organised a common feast at CSI Bishop Appasamy College of Arts and Science in the city today.
Speaking about the common feast, Mr. RVM. Kumanan, Supervisor, Coimbatore District AIDS Prevention and Control unit, said the common feast is observed every year since 2001 with an objective to remove stigma and end discrimination associated with AIDS among the public.
Common feast offers a good opportunity for both People Living with HIV( PLHIV) and common man to interact and eat together besides sending a positive message to the society that PLHIV needs empathy and understanding and not discrimination, he observed.
"While there is an improved awareness and understanding about AIDS among people, stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV has still not ended. Not only the PLHIV couples, their children also face discrimination which should be ended considering its debilitating impact on the impressionable minds of children,” he remarked.
He further highlighted the need for more proactive initiatives from the government to ensure PLHIV lived with dignity and peace.
"Though I was happy to participate in the common feast, I expect more favourable changes in the attitude of people in the mainstream towards us,“ commented Mrs. Selvi (name changed), a HIV positive person.
Earlier in the day, a rally was organised by the Coimbatore District AIDS Prevention and Control Society which was flagged off by the District Collector T.N. Hariharan from the District Collectorate. The rally saw the participation of more than thousand students from different colleges and NGO volunteers of the city and ended at the Government Hospital where they took an oath, pledging themselves to the cause of fighting discrimination and stigma associated with AIDS.
Dr. Chandrasekaran, Joint Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Coimbatore, Dr. PG. Bhanumathy, Deputy Director, Health services, Coimbatore Dr. P.Krishna, Deputy Director, Family Welfare and Dr. K. Santhoshkumar, Coimbatore Corporation Health Officer , were among the officials who participated in the common feast.
In connection with World AIDS day, Coimbatore District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit in association with Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society organised a common feast at CSI Bishop Appasamy College of Arts and Science in the city today.
Speaking about the common feast, Mr. RVM. Kumanan, Supervisor, Coimbatore District AIDS Prevention and Control unit, said the common feast is observed every year since 2001 with an objective to remove stigma and end discrimination associated with AIDS among the public.
Common feast offers a good opportunity for both People Living with HIV( PLHIV) and common man to interact and eat together besides sending a positive message to the society that PLHIV needs empathy and understanding and not discrimination, he observed.
"While there is an improved awareness and understanding about AIDS among people, stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV has still not ended. Not only the PLHIV couples, their children also face discrimination which should be ended considering its debilitating impact on the impressionable minds of children,” he remarked.
He further highlighted the need for more proactive initiatives from the government to ensure PLHIV lived with dignity and peace.
"Though I was happy to participate in the common feast, I expect more favourable changes in the attitude of people in the mainstream towards us,“ commented Mrs. Selvi (name changed), a HIV positive person.
Earlier in the day, a rally was organised by the Coimbatore District AIDS Prevention and Control Society which was flagged off by the District Collector T.N. Hariharan from the District Collectorate. The rally saw the participation of more than thousand students from different colleges and NGO volunteers of the city and ended at the Government Hospital where they took an oath, pledging themselves to the cause of fighting discrimination and stigma associated with AIDS.
Dr. Chandrasekaran, Joint Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Coimbatore, Dr. PG. Bhanumathy, Deputy Director, Health services, Coimbatore Dr. P.Krishna, Deputy Director, Family Welfare and Dr. K. Santhoshkumar, Coimbatore Corporation Health Officer , were among the officials who participated in the common feast.