The Hindu Business Line : Power to the `positive' person

FROM the MTV Music Summit for AIDS to a Confederation of Indian Industry co-sponsored `Walk for Life' to `Staying Alive' with Levi Jeans — the red-ribbon was ubiquitous on World Aids Day (December 1). Celebrities of all hues undertook efforts to de-stigmatise the disease even as sceptics continue to dispute the numbers of HIV/AIDS afflicted in the country. But in all this din, is the "positive person" being left out in the cold?

When the world's richest man, Bill Gates, announced his $100-million grant to fight AIDS, all eyes were on him, his motive and the controversy over numbers. But sharing the same podium that day was a `positive person' whose message was sensitise society to deal with HIV persons, make medicines available and protect his/her employment.

And it is precisely this that premier training and consulting institute NIS seeks to address through its soon-to-be released video and curriculum for corporates to handle their direct and indirect staff who may be "positive" or may just need to be educated on the illness.

Sanjeev Duggal, President of NIS, told Business Line: "Much more needs to be done by the community and corporates. NIS has tied up with Breakthrough, a non-government organisation with operations in Delhi and New York, to produce a music video and a curriculum for training on the AIDS issue."

Breakthrough's approach to the issue uses popular culture as a mechanism to create awareness, he elaborates. The video with NIS is titled Khwab, khwab (Dream) and is slated to be aired on electronic media in February 2003. "The idea is to carry the message and interventional activities beyond one designated day," he points out.

"We will take the curriculum to our 300-odd clients, top companies of the Indian industry. Corporates who act as influence groups will also be tapped. For instance, tyre or petroleum companies can spread awareness to truck-drivers or personal care companies could train commercial sex workers," he said. Manufacturing companies can train their factory workers, he adds.

The need to weed out discrimination in the workplace is highlighted by the World Health Organsiation also: "Stigma and discrimination are continuing to fuel the epidemic."

According to WHO estimates, India, with 3.9 million HIV/AIDS persons, tops the South East-Asian region. There are about 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world.

Despite organisations such as Modi Care Foundation organising awareness events in the country to "celebrate" the day, much more is required of corporates.

Celebrity economist Jeff Sachs points out that "a strategy needs to be laid out integrating the different sources of funding and the isolated work done by the different agencies, so that the positive person is not left out." A point he would repeat to authorities when he visits India next year.

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