Its World Aids Day today. Though its been close to two decades since this dreaded disease was discovered, there is still no cure. Further in developing countries, people are still mis-informed and reluctant to discuss it. There is a social paranoia attached to AIDS & HIV. Today is not just about raising money but increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. HIV today is a threat to men, women and children. More and more children are being affected by it.
It is estimated that 2.5 million are currently living with HIV in India. People are still miss informed about the spread and infection. India's social constraints are its biggest stumbling block and to combat this Piya Sorcar, a doctoral student in Stanford's Learning, Sciences & Technology Design Program has come up with a unique way of educating the children without offending their parents and the government. Pria has initiated Interactive Teaching AIDS an animation based educational curriculum to teach HIV/AIDS awareness and their preventive strategies.
Educating people, increasing awareness cross all the economic strata of society is the first step. The theme for World AIDS Day 2007 is "leadership" highlighting the need for innovation, vision and perseverance in the face of the AIDS challenge. I hope that our leaders recognize the seriousness and urgency of the AIDS epidemic and show compassion to their people, to the people of the state and country.
But it is not only the leaders who can make a difference. We can too. Educate ourselves, open our hearts and examine how we can help. If you would like to do something right now, click the button on the right and join the campaign to stop AIDS in children.
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