The program was organized by the National Social Service (NSS) wing of the SVT College of Home Science at the university, which had invited Kripa Foundation and the Vasai Region Aids Control Society to conduct the awareness campaign, due to Kripa and VRACS’ vast experience in this field. The principal, Mrs Thakur and senior faculty members of SVT College welcomed the Kripa Bandra team consisting of counselor Mr. Vijay Pujari and Dr. Girish Gidwani and VRACS representative and counselor, Mr. Daya Rane.
Mrs. Thakur introduced the Kripa & VRACS team to the students and other faculty members. Later, Dr. Girish Gidwani later gave a lecture on the medical aspects of HIV and AIDS covering issues such as transmission, detection, prevention, treatment and myths. Mr. Daya Rane gave a lecture on the role played by VRACS in controlling and creating a general awareness about HIV/ AIDS in the Vasai-Virar region and gave details on how the organization counsels victims of the infection and disease. Mr. Vijay Pujari spoke about how drug addiction and it’s correlation with HIV/ AIDS transmission while pointing out how drug addicts are considered a “high risk group” to contract the virus. Mr. Vijay Pujari also spoke about Kripa Bandra’s awareness campaigns conducted in slum areas of Mumbai, which hosts a large populace of intra-venous drug users and how the contagion spreads rapidly, as well as methods of counseling for such addicts deployed by Kripa Foundation.
Women students asked several questions relating to protection measures from contracting or spread of HIV due to sexual contact, how AIDS affects pregnant women and neonates, the spread of AIDS due to multiple sex partners and if HIV spreads via saliva and sweat. The Kripa Bandra and VRACS team gave the relevant answers which were well applauded by these students. Students thanked the Kripa Bandra and VRACS team stating, the lecture and interactive session had helped dispel various myths about HIV and AIDS while throwing light on prevention.
Submitted
Ashwin Honawar
Collage
Newsdesk
