It is a Sunday morning. Outside Hyderabad, at a Rajasthani-style resort named Dhola-ri-dhani, close to 500 men have gathered.  The younger among them seem to be in their 20s, the seniors in their 60s. They speak softly, but warmly to each other. Many of them know each other through previous secret meetings but if they were to meet outside, they would not acknowledge that. It would be as though they have never met before. But here they are at peace in a gathering …

The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) Monday launched the Condom Social Marketing Programme (CSMP), under the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-III), targeting sales of 47 crore condoms across 370 districts of the country.
The CSMP will focus on increasing condom availability, particularly in rural areas as well as in non-traditional outlets like grocery shops, roadside eateries, auto/taxi workshops, barber shops etc.
‘Out of the total 8 lakh outlets proposed to be covered in this phase, 5 lakh will be non-traditional outlets …

After years of providing treatment, care and support for HIV/AIDS among high risk groups like truckers, commercial sex workers, injectable drug users and transgenders, the government is suddenly faced with a new challenge — the increasing incidence of HIV among youth, possibly due to unsafe casual sex. Concerned by the trend, the Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society (TNSACS) is organising a youth carnival to create awareness and promote safe sex.
The state has been boasting about a decline of infection in the …

In the run-up to the Commonwealth Games (CWG), the Delhi AIDS Control Society has planned to install 150 condom vending machines at various public places. While some machines will be in the Games’s Village and inside the stadiums, there will be machines installed at malls, markets, hotels and even paan shops.
“We are ready with the machines and now waiting for the approval from the CWG authorities, hotels and malls across Delhi to install them,” says an official from the National Aids Control Organisation.
HT City …

Seventy HIV positive children, as well as those who have lost their parents to the dreaded disease, showed their creative side by enthusiastically participating in different competitions organised by UP Network for HIV positive people and UP State AIDS Control Society, on the occasion of World Orphans Day, on Friday.
In painting competition, Ankita, Anchal and Adarsh secured first, second and third position, respectively. In singing competition, Shikha, Nikhil and Anchal secured first, second and third position, respectively. The children also participated in quiz competition.
Assistant District AIDS Control Programme Officer Dr …

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has initiated a massive awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS, through its School of Social Work (SOSW). The program will mainly focus on spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS in India.

Through the awareness program, all the fresh students will be mailed with a folder titled ‘HIV/AIDS Prevention guide for students’, carrying basic facts regarding HIV/AIDS. Every year, IGNOU organizes a number of regional-level-seminars and an Annual National Seminar on ‘Social Work Response to HIV/AIDS’. This year, the seminar is being held in Kuttikkanam, Idukki district of Kerala, from …

The indomitable human spirit never ceases to surprise.When Pradipkumar Singh stepped forward to receive his silver medal at the 50th Senior National Bodybuilding Championship in Margao on Sunday it was one such moment.What set this 39-year-old from insurgency-ravaged Manipur apart was his HIV positive status.And,of course,his sheer grit and determination.
The story begins in 1984,when as a teenager Pradipkumar had his first brush with heroin.I started doing drugs just for fun.I was probably 14 when I tried heroin for the first time and then marijuana, he says.But the narcotic high doesnt …

Fast Tube by Casper
Song , Fatak , talks about AIDS. By the way the Fataak is the sound of the whip that symbolises how people need a whip sometimes to understand some things in life.

Appointed a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador recently, Bollywood actress and co-owner of the Indian Premier League team Kings XI Punjab Preity Zinta has chosen an HIV positive woman to toss the coin in her side’s opening match against Delhi Daredevils here tonight.
The 35-year-old widow, who has worked to rehabilitate more than 200 others like her, said she will be coming inside a cricket stadium for the first time.
“I am waiting to see my favourite cricket stars, particularly Yuvraj Singh. It is such a great feeling,” the woman said.
Zinta had said here …

In a boost to family planning measures and controlling AIDS, the Government has earmarked nearly Rs 400 crore for increasing the coverage of eligible couples under a programme, which includes free distribution of oral birth control pills and condoms.
A total of Rs 55 crore has been allocated for free distribution of contraceptives like oral pills, IUDs, tubal rings, E-pills and laparoscopes to the state government for distribution to couples free of cost through sub-centres, primary health centres (PHC), community health centres (CHC) and hospitals.
Under the project, 450 lakh cycles of …