HIV and AIDS Corporate Awareness Success!!!

On Friday June 1, the Xansa Corp, an outsourcing and technology company welcomed the Wake Up Pune team to their headquarters. The main lobby was kindly provided to spread HIV awareness through slide presentations, HIV knowledge quizzes, and a kiosk promoting the Wake Up Pune Campaign that employees could access at their own convenience. While enjoying their breaks, they had the opportunity to purchase some beautiful jewelry, pillowcases, purses and scarves made by women living with HIV from Sahara Aalhad in Delhi. All proceeds went to better the facilities provided by Sahara Aalhad Residential Care and Rehabilitation Centre. Staff were also provided with accurate information about the transmission of HIV, how they can protect themselves and their loved ones, and learned how HIV and AIDS Stigma and Discrimination indirectly fuel the spread of a disease that now has become an epidemic in their own city. The many myths surrounding HIV transmission were theatrically broken through short skits followed up by the truth about HIV transmission. The performance entitled the Stigma Chakra vividly portrayed how Silence, Ignorance, Fear, Stigma and Discrimination further the spread of HIV within the community. Michael Marshall of Sahara Aalhad in Pune spoke about the REALITY of HIV in this city and let the corporate sector know that their socioeconomic status will not protect them from a virus that currently infects 5.7 million people in their country. The primary message conveyed was that HIV does not discriminate, but we discriminate against people living with HIV and AIDS and those that seek accurate information in order to protect themselves. More importantly, upon receiving this newfound knowledge about HIV, the employees gained a sense of agency in protecting themselves and had the opportunity to sign up to volunteer or receive even more information. The feedback received was positive, as many were surprised at how inaccurate their previous understanding of HIV was and really wanted to know more. In fact, many signed up to volunteer and receive more information.
In one short day, this group of young professionals gained much insight into how HIV is affecting their community, and learned how breaking the silence and spreading the knowledge they gained can help end the stigma chakra and combat HIV in Pune. The employess at Xansa were told to WAKE UP to the reality of HIV in Pune. Many were shocked to hear the truth, and the truth is that 1.8% of Pune’s population is currently infected. Unofficial figures report that about 2.3% of the population is HIV+, more than twice the national average. We all need to wake up! The reality is that HIV is in Pune!! Breaking the myth that this virus only infects the poor or is a product of perceived immoral behaviour is vital in effectively preventing HIV and AIDS, as well as bettering the lives of the many neglected and stigmatized individuals living with HIV. The employees were told to be more POSITIVE about HIV. This attitude means being Positive about educating ourselves and others about HIV/AIDS, being Positive about raising awareness in our wider community and being Positive about reaching out to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.