Tamil Nadu   

A chance to fight stigma surrounding AIDS

Ramya Kannan

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

SENDING A MESSAGE: Persons living with HIV/AIDS celebrating Valentine's Day at Alsa Mall, Egmore.

CHENNAI: For all those dismiss Valentine's Day as a marketing gimmick, here is a chance to reconsider. This year, it is an occasion to fight the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS.

About 10 positive couples gathered under the high ceiling of Alsa Mall in Egmore to celebrate Valentine's Day, for perhaps the first time in their life. As man and wife, they released heart-shaped red balloons. And just as the hydrogen balloons lifted, they hoped they could scatter their worries to the wind.

The mood was celebratory. Concerns about money, treatment and health could wait. Ravichandran, an auto driver, says he has always bought his wife, Vasanthi, a gift since he married her 11 years ago. As for Vasanthi, she is delighted even if it is a string of flowers. It is not as if this couple does not have bad days. There are fights, differences of opinion, but that too, like every other worry can wait.

Mallika and Mani are at Alsa Mall fresh from their latest fight. But that does not keep them from participating with gusto in games, taking an oath to spread awareness and interacting with each other. Mallika, who is positive, married the love of her life three years ago.

Beyond their love for each other though, the theme of the event was to demonstrate the love positive people have for life, Indian Community Development Organisation secretary A.J. Hariharan said. "People have this misconception that positive people are all skin and bones. That is not true, as you can see for yourself here," Rama Pandian, director, Tamil Nadu Network of Positive Persons said.

The programme was organised by ICWO and inaugurated by Brooke Spelman, Vice Consul, American Consulate.

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