Panchgani (Satara district): When Naina Raut discovered she was HIV positive in 1998, she was told she had a year to live. "Everyone told me to do what I wanted as I had a short life. I was pregnant at that time and faced a dilemma. Who would look after my child after I died?" she says.

Though Ms. Raut survived and now has a seven-year-old daughter, her story is the classic example of people who contract HIV and are faced with so much isolation and fear. It is to address the lacunae in care and support and the need to reassure people living with HIV/AIDS that a new campaign was launched at Bel Air Hospital in Panchgani, a hill station in Satara district on Friday.

The launch was attended by various networks working with people living with HIV/AIDS; USAID, Avert Society and Health Communication Partnership/Johns Hopkins University, the Red Cross and other organisations.

The campaign titled `You are not alone, We are with you' aims to address the isolation, fear, vulnerability and ignorance around HIV/AIDS. It was developed with the support of USAID, India, Avert Society, and Health Communication Partnership/Johns Hopkins University.

Sonalini Mirchandani, country director, Health Communication Partnership/Johns Hopkins University, said, "Through the campaign we want to show that HIV is manageable and people can live a healthy life. The campaign has flip charts, songs, a short film featuring HIV positive people, pamphlets, all of which are useful guides for the community and those living with HIV/AIDS. It also has a monitoring component."

Ms. Raut who is now treasurer of NMP +, a Pune-based network of people living with HIV/AIDS, said that without her family's support she would have not been able to live. She got medical help from agencies like Avert and she felt she was not alone.

Sanjay Nikam who works with a Sangli-based group, said that he knew he was HIV positive about nine-and-a-half years ago. Addressing the gathering, he said, "I am proud today to say that I don't have any medicines and I eat a nutritious well balanced diet, I take medical advice and exercise regularly."

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