The Hindu : New Delhi News : Metro launches campaign to spread AIDS awareness

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Sunday, Dec 02, 2007
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New Delhi

Metro launches campaign to spread AIDS awareness

Staff Reporter

Project aims at securing the lives of migrant workers
Pamphlets, calendars containing messages on AIDS and HIV to be distributed

NEW DELHI: Street plays, puppet shows, group sessions, posters and much more will be used by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to spread public awareness about HIV/AIDS.

The DMRC, which relies heavily on migrant workers for its construction works across the city, has undertaken a project to secure their lives by equipping them with the know-how of preventing the spread of the dreaded disease.

It has taken up a two-year campaign to educate this vulnerable group about the killer disease.

The HIV/AIDS mitigation programme, targeting 6,000 workers, aims at enhancing awareness levels and improving the behaviour, attitude and practices of migrant workers.

According to a DMRC official, the programme will be taken up at construction sites and workers’ camps along the 13 corridors of Delhi Metro’s Phase II.

The campaign, which will start this month and will be implemented by a non-government organisation, Voluntary Health Association of India, will continue up to January 2010 and is expected to benefit thousands of migrant workers who come to the Capital from various parts of the country.

As part of the campaign, group sessions will be organised on Sundays and holidays at various sites.

Pamphlets and calendars containing basic messages on AIDS and HIV besides a list of clinics and counselling centres and condom availability outlets will be distributed among the workers.

According to senior DMRC officials, peer educators will be selected from among the workers (one for every 100 workers) and trained so that they can educate their colleagues. The DMRC and contractors’ staff will also be sensitised on various aspects of the campaign.

A Technical Advisory Committee comprising officials of DMRC, Delhi State AIDS Control Society, International Labour Organisation, Japan Bank for International Cooperation and General Consultants of DMRC will monitor the activities and provide necessary technical inputs and direction to the programme.

The DMRC claims to have carried out a highly successful HIV/AIDS awareness programmes during construction of its Phase I network which benefited over 3,000 migrant workers.

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