'Save the Kids' trail HIV/AIDS victims

An awareness campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and the social stigma attached to the disease organised by the Save the Kids will be held on December 1.

The campaign will carry the message of hope on HIV and AIDS and communicated through creative arts, humour and drama.

Today in Sri Lanka, there are 923 reported cases infected with HIV. Approximately 30 of those are children. Apart from the reported cases, it is estimated that there could be up to 3500 who are living with HIV and AIDS. Many attempts have been made to determine the exact number of Sri Lankans who are HIV positive, but since most attempts have been in the form of surveys, the accuracy of which are largely dependent on details of participants sexuality and sex life, people are reluctant to respond.

At the end of 2006 there were an estimated 39.5 million people worldwide living with HIV and AIDS. 2006 also recorded the highest number of infections ever, with over 4.3 Million people testing positive for HIV. 6,000 young people, between 15 and 24 years old, become infected with HIV each day, accounting for over half of the new infections.

The Save Lanka Kids partnering with Community Strength Development Foundation, Hope Youth Foundation, National HIV and AIDS Control Program, LEADS, CCF- Sri Lanka, FIDA and Srilankan Airlines has plans to launch a hard hitting and far reaching campaign.

"Our message to you on World Aids Day goes beyond just educating you on HIV and AIDS, we invite you stand up for the rights of these people, and speak out on behalf of them this is how we can put an end to AIDS", Prabu Deepan of Save Lanka Kids says.

Today in Sri Lanka there are many organisations that do effectively work on HIV and AIDS. "Most of these organisation concentrate on creating awareness but only a few take the effort to actually care and advocate for the people living with HIV and AIDS. "There are so many reported cases of suicide of people who have HIV and AIDS, because of the social stigma which their families many have to face, like in instances where children of these people are asked to leave schools or ridiculed or shunned in schools because of their parents' condition. And there are also reported cases of losing their jobs because of this", says Deepani.

Save Lanka Kids invites everyone to join in their collaborative effort to stop the spread of HIV in Sri Lanka and to stand up for the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS. For more information call 2 513865, or email: [email protected]