The Hindu : Kerala News : Mohanlal joins AIDS awareness drive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Mohanlal joins AIDS awareness drive

Staff Reporter

FOR A CAUSE: Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy and actor Mohanlal watching a campaign film done by the latter on AIDS in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. - Photo: S. Gopakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Initiatives to create awareness on AIDS received a shot in the arm on Monday with cine star Mohanlal assuming charge as

`goodwill ambassador' of the campaign by the Kerala AIDS Control Society. Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy inaugurated a function held here in this connection.

The campaign has two objectives: to prevent the spread of the disease and eradicate the stigma and discriminations prevailing in the State against those who have tested HIV positive.

Two short audio-visual productions of one-minute duration each, radio skits, posters, pamphlets, posters, cinema slides and hoardings have been prepared as part of the campaign.

The previews of the two audio-visuals were also held at the inaugural function. Both have Mohanlal in the lead role. While one of them has `Jeevithathil Retakukalilla' (there are no re-takes in real life) as the campaign slogan, the other extols the virtue of love and the need to integrate HIV positive victims into the mainstream private and social lives. It also reminds the audience of the need to exercise caution against the possibilities of contracting AIDS, as prevention is the only way to escape from the disease.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohanlal said he was happy to get an opportunity to take part in a venture aimed at social good. Mohanlal said he and his colleagues from the film field would always be supportive of any initiative meant for the welfare of the people.

The Minister in her inaugural address said such campaigns would help reverse the spread of the disease in the State and ensure that the people who have tested HIV positive are able to live as part of the mainstream society.

In this context, she said the Government would ensure that the four children from Pambadi area in Kottayam who have tested AIDS positive continue their studies in the same school where they are now studying.

She said the Government was planning to implement the AIDS awareness programmes in collaboration with the local bodies, Nehru Yuvak Kendra,

Literacy Mission, Mahila Swasth Sangh and the network of Health Department institutions.

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