Srinagar Dec 5 (KNS): In connection with World Aids day celebration KOSHISH a Srinagar base NGO in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society (JKACS) organised truck Mela in Srinagars Parmipora fruit Mandi.
The programme was held under the guidance of Project Director Dr Sameer Mattoo.
The thematic focus for the year 2023 was "Let Communities Lead."
In adherence to Dr. Sameer Mattoo's directives, the KOSHISH team successfully mobilized various stakeholders, including truckers, community members, fruit dealers, and truck associations, to participate in the awareness rallies.
Notably, the New Kashmir Fruit Association provided crucial support within the mandi premises.
The primary objectives of these awareness rallies encompassed the commemoration of World AIDS Day and the dissemination of information pertaining to HIV/AIDS.
Beyond the annual observance, KOSHISH consistently conducts such awareness programs to sensitize the long-distance trucker community about HIV/AIDS, dispel myths, and underscore the importance of protection and self-awareness.
Furthermore, these awareness seminars are strategically designed to address HIV/AIDS prevention among local communities that may be at risk.
Senior officers from the JKACS- Mr Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan-Assistant director Lab services, Dr Rouf Malik -- Director KOSHISH, Bashir Ahmad Bashir – President, New Kashmir Fruit Association inaugurated the program, joined by the Koshish Target Intervention Programme Team.
KOSHISH took the opportunity to highlight critical issues, emphasizing the urgency of eliminating social stigma associated with AIDS patients and stressing the importance of providing physiological and medical care support to individuals affected by AIDS. A noteworthy aspect of the program was a captivating street play presented by the Vitasta Folk Theater Group, wherein they effectively communicated key messages related to AIDS awareness. The program successfully blended education, advocacy, and community engagement to contribute towards a more informed and compassionate approach to HIV/AIDS issues within the region.(KNS)