Mobile exhibition on HIV/AIDS
A mobile exhibition on HIV/AIDS did its rounds on the highways in Coimbatore on Wednesday.Starting from Neelambur bypass, a mini lorry displaying information on HIV/AIDS covered five major halting points of trucks. The mini truck covered 10 km in the city and its suburbs.Organised by the Victoria Educational and Social Welfare Trust, the exhibition was aimed at making truck drivers aware of HIV/AIDS and dispel the myths connected to it. Volunteers interacted with the truckers and performed a street play conveying messages of prevention and treatment.The programme covered about 500 drivers and cleaners from over 50 transport companies.Pamphlets and information, education and communication materials were distributed among them.“Though the incidence of HIV/AIDS has gone down among truck drivers owing to an increase in awareness levels, there is a need for continuous effort in bringing down the number of HIV cases,” says S. Prabudass, Director, Victoria Trust.Apollo Tyres Limited had sponsored a clinic exclusively for truck drivers at Ukkadam where they could have a free health check-up and medicines at Rs.15 a month.The same clinic also organised regular health camps on the highways. The drivers and cleaners could also get free treatment at the clinic’s branches in North India.
Victoria Trust has been involved with HIV/AIDS prevention programmes for truckers for the last 11 years along with USAID and AIDS Prevention And Control.They have identified friends or associates of the truckers with whom they interact closely along the highways. These people were identified as peer leaders or ‘dhosts’ who would take the message of prevention across to the target group.
