World AIDS Day Celebration 2010
December 1st is a day set aside as World AIDS Day and is celebrated all over the world to remember people living with HIV/AIDS or suffering because of AIDS; raise funds to support AIDS work; increase awareness, improve education and fight prejudice.
World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for all of us individuals, communities and political leaders- to take action and ensure that human rights are protected and global targets for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care are met.
For the last 12 years S. B. Devi Charity Home (SBDCH) is observing World AIDS DAY on Wednesday, 1st of December 2010 through an awareness programme to remind people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done. This programme was jointly organized by Inner Wheel Clubs: North Calcutta, Cossipore, Calcutta Mid South & Calcutta North East. Rotary Clubs: North West, Kankurgachi, Calcutta South Central and Calcutta East Central and Rotaract Club of North Calcutta.
The theme for World AIDS Day 2010 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights' Global leaders have pledged to work towards 'Universal Access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care, recognizing these as fundamental human rights.
Everyone was asked to assemble on the above mentioned date from 11 am onwards at Sovabazar Natmandir Hall, Raja Naba Krishna Street, Kolkata 700005 which is very close to SBDCH.
At first Red ribbons were tied to everyone present as a symbol of HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.
President and Members of different Clubs, CSWs (Commercial Sex Workers), Malkins, Babus, Clients, Children of Konika Kindergarten & Konika Night Shelter, and students of 4 different Schools - Binapani Purdah Girls High School, Sree Bidya Niketan for Girls, Sree Bidya Niketan for Boys and Calcutta Bidya Bhawan participated in the programme.
Sekhar Chattopadhyay, General Secretary of SBDCH requested the Presidents of Inner wheel club, Rotary Clubs and Rotaract Club of North Calcutta to come on the dais. Each members spoke few words on this special day. Then our General Secretary, Mr. Sekhar Chattopadhyay delivered a speech on AIDS Day. He said a lot of things to aware the people about the dangerous disease.
Dr. Gitali Roy Mitra, Programme Supervisor of SBDCH highlighted about the achievement taken place in world AIDS day for the last 12 years. Dr. Bikas Basu, Monitor, Public health in Prostitute Area spoke about our work, future planning and what we are going to do today. Dr. Tapas Jana, Asst.Programme Supervisor informed all the audience about the achievements of our school health check-up programme.
After that renowned, Member of Legislative Assembly, of Cossipore Constituency Mr. Tarak Bandopadhyay uttered few words to the audience present in the hall about the AIDS Day, warned about the disease & our responsibility towards society. He also said how we can make a beautiful & clean society. Finally he praised SBDCH for their unique activities.
This was followed by two beautiful Dance presentations by Konika Children (Children of CSWs). It was really fantastic & enchanting.
43 students, 20 CSWs, 6 Babus and 6 House wives participated in the workshop. Participants were divided in 6 groups.Each group was represented by school students of both sexes from different schools, CSWs, Babus and house wife. In each table two Peer educators were responsible to educate the participants. In addition one SBDCH facilitator was present in each table as observer and providing support to the Peer Educators as and when required. During the course of discussion the following subjects were highlighted:
- Way of Transmission of HIV
- Behavioural attitude & Methods of Prevention of acquiring HIV
- Myths regarding HIV/AIDS
- Care and Support to the HIV/AIDS patients.
This training session was followed by lunch break. Food packets were distributed to all the participants and guests.
After the lunch break Role play was organized, in which two participants from each table took part. Each group was given a particular theme to play the roles. The themes of the role play were as follows:
- Care & Support
- Safe sex
- Doctor & Patient
- Ways of Surviving
- Injection sharing
- Last days of AIDS victim.
Three Judges one from Rotary, one Headmistress of local school and one SBDCH member judged the performance of the participants.
The best three performers were awarded by SBDCH.
This programme was a great success; the unique feature of this programme was that we could overcome the social barrier and mental inhibition of the participants to have open and clear discussion on all aspects of HIV/AIDS in a mixed group of school children, CSWs, Babus and house wives. Further we could motivate the school children of both the sexes from different schools who are completely unknown to each other along with the CSWs to perform on the same platform during the role play.
This is our greatest achievement and we have almost reached our goal, where we could gather different sections of our society for HIV/AIDS awareness and Prevention.
During the programme pamphlets & leaflets were distributed to everyone presented in hall.
Finally a vote of thanks was given by our General Secretary Mr. Sekhar Chattopadhyay to all the participants, club members and guest for extending their full support in making this programme a success.
WORLD AIDS DAY Celebration 2009
December 1st is a day set aside as World AIDS Day and is celebrated all over the world to remember people living with HIV/AIDS or suffering because of AIDS; raise funds to support AIDS work; increase awareness, education and fight prejudice.
Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.
Like the last 11 years this year too S. B. Devi Charity Home (SBDCH) organized World AIDS DAY on Tuesday, 1 st of December 2009 through an awareness programme in association with Inner Wheel Clubs of District 329, Rotary Club of Calcutta South Central & Rotaract Club of North Calcutta
The theme for 2009 World AIDS Day is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'
Everyone was asked to assemble on the above mentioned date from 11 am onwards at the Conference Room of the Ganabhaban Community Hall, 22, Jatindra Mohan Avenue. Kolkata -700006, beside Jatin Moitro Park which is very close to SBDCH & biggest Red Light Area.
Members of different Clubs along with the children & Mothers of KONIKA (Night shelter for commercial Sex Workers Children), CSWs (Commercial Sex Workers), Malkins, Babus & Clients took part in the programme.
At first Red ribbons were tied to everyone present as a symbol of HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.
The programme was started with a beautiful dance presentation with a Bengali song 'Anondoloke Mongolaloke' by Konika Children.
Then the General Secretary of SBDCH, Mr. Sekhar Chattopadhyay delivered a speech on AIDS Day.
He said a lot of things to aware the people about the dangerous disease. He said that we should be true to our partner, do not have multiple partners, sharing syringes also causes HIV/AIDS mainly drug addicts & we should always make sure the blood we are receiving is tested and not affected by HIV/AIDS. He also emphasize that we need to do more awareness amongst the adolescents & this is why SBDCH is conducting HIV/AIDS intervention programme on a regular basis in the School( both in Girls & Boys) and create the team for Peer educator. among the students.
Then a sex worker Mrs. Swati Biswas presented a stunning traditional dance on a brass pitcher filled with water, holding two metal plates on two hands.
During the programme pamphlets & leaflets were distributed and posters were also displayed all over the area (which we have received from AIDS cell, Bhawani Bhawan.
This was followed by speeches: Dr.Ajoy Mukherjee, member of Governing body of SBDCH, Manjushree Nandi, the President of Rotary Club of South Central, President of Inner Wheel Club Mrs. Purna Mukherjee, President Prosenjit Mullick & Secretary Neelanjana chattopadhyay of Rotaract club of North Calcutta & Community Director of Rotary south central Dr. Ashok Dutta gave small but effective speeches on HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Gitali Roy Mitra, Programme Supervisor of SBDCH highlighted about the achievement taken place in world AIDS day for the last 11 years. Dr. Bikas Basu, Monitor, Public health in Prostitute Area spoke about our work, future planning and to-days activity.
A colourful dance was presented by the little children of Konika Night Shelter with a Hindi song 'Meri Maa'. It was really fantastic & enchanting.
Every year we plan to observe & celebrate World HIV/AIDS day in a very special way. We have organized a peer educator training programme on HIV /AIDS amongst the students of Std. VIII, IX & X of different schools of north Kolkata in our project building on 30 th October. This year we have selected 10 girls from Binapani Purdah Girls School as facilitators for world AIDS day.
We have chosen this platform to award these 10 students by presenting certificates in front of this august gathering. All the girls felt very proud & honored to receive them. The Certificates were distributed by Sunipa chattopadhyay, Pompa Chandra, Purna Mukherjee (all Inner Wheel Dignataries), Rtn. Dr. Ashok Dutta and Dr. Simone Rueedi (representative of Swiss University ) to all the 10 peer educator.
Then an intervention of CSWs, Mothers of Konika children, Malkins, Babus & Clients was started. They were 60 in numbers. All of them were divided in several groups. Intervention was given by Dr. Gitali Roy Mitra, Dr.Bikas Basu, Dr.Tapas Jana, Dr.Nityananda Paul & students of Binapani Purdah School. All the facilitator mainly focused on: What is HIV , Origin of HIV, Transmission of SIVcpz in Human, How HIV Affects Immune System, 'Window Period' FOR HIV, Transmission of HIV from human to human, Mode of Transmission of HIV in People of West Bengal, Early Symptoms of HIV, Infection, Diagnosis of HIV, Post Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV, What is AIDS, Vulnerable People to get HIV / AIDS, Vulnerable People to get HIV / AIDS, Care & Support for People Living with HIV / AIDS, Factor not responsible for spreading HIV/ AIDS, Top 10 Myths about HIV/AIDS, How to Combat HIV / AIDS.
After that renowned, MLA, of Cossipore Constituency Mr. Tarak Bandopadhyay uttered few words to the audience present in the hall about the AIDS Day, warned about the disease & our responsibility towards society. He also said how we can make a beautiful & clean society. Finally he praised SBDCH for their unique activities.
Then a short break was taken for Lunch. It was distributed to all the participants & guests.
After lunch 6 participants were selected from different groups for Role Play. The group consisted of 4 sex workers, 1 Babu & 1 Client. The names of the groups were Megh/ Aakash & Sagar . For the role-play session the topic was given to the groups by lottery, the Topic was Condom Promotion, Role of a Malkin & CSW & Risk Behaviour. The participant spontaneously enacted their given topics.
At the end of the session, the judges announce the name of the group and Prizes were distributed to all the winners. We have also given a small gift to all the CSWs and other participants for their participation as a token of appreciation along with a packet consisting of Condom, ORS, OCP, Iron and Folic Acid Tabs.
The Konika children closed the programme by giving a nice dance performance based on a Hindi song. Everybody enjoyed the whole programme.
The entire programme was compared by General Secretary Mr. Sekhar Chattopadhyay.
Finally a vote of thanks was given by our General Secretary Mr. Sekhar Chattopadhyay to all the participants, club members, KMC, Kolkata Police, AIDS cell and guest for extending their full support in making this programme a success.
Special thanks to our Borough II Chairman Ms. Anushila Sen Gupta for providing us the venue and personal involvement.