The district administration is gearing up to observe World AIDS day on December 1, with weeklong programmes to educate people about the disease and spread awareness in sections of the society more susceptible to it. The theme for the week this year is 'Universal access and human rights'.
Rallies: The week will be kicked off by a rally of young citizens of Nagpur from Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital to Chitnis Park on Tuesday morning. There will also be a candlelight vigil by youngsters at Variety Square in Sitabuldi in the evening the same day to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS. There will also be special road shows and street plays at strategic squares and junctions across the city including Ganga Jamuna Square, Gandhibagh Square, Lokmat Square and Laxmi Nagar Square.
Awareness: There will also be programmes like special sensitization workshops at several centres across the district where people come to test themselves for HIV. This will be held on December 2 and 3. On December 4, there will be a sensitization workshop at Central Jail in Nagpur, where many inmates are either at the risk of being infected, and some may have already been infected. A special tableau will also be put up at Kasturchand Park on December 5.
Easter Studies Society and Manav Seva Sahara Vikas Sanstha in association with MSACS and UNAIDS would distribute handbills among railway passengers and citizens at Nagpur Railway station on Tuesday morning. Manohar Roy of ESS and Ashish Lobo of MSSVS said that they would also telecast a documentary on AIDS 'Saodhan' at the railway station. On December 2, a programme would also be organised at Punjab National Bank premises on Kingsway.