Report: WORLD AIDS DAY 2011 OBSERVED OVER A FORTNIGHT

Catch the huge turnout at MDACS during the First Event

Mission:

The Arogyasakhis had successfully trained a number of women to spread the word on HIV/AIDS and this brilliance led to the plan for the WORLD AIDS DAY celebration this year.

The Arogyasakhis were to mobilize women from their zones to a celebrity studded HIV/AIDS game show organized especially for these women at five zones. 123 Arogyasakhis were given a target of training and mobilizing 2000 women from all over Mumbai.

Sangita Bongade is the District Co-ordinating Officer who heads the Sahayoginis.

The Sahayoginis who made it all possible were:

Smt. Madhura Velankar speaking to the women

• Joyoti Barve
• Karuna Pednekar
• Vaishali Mane
• Pramila Singh
• Chaya Suryavanshi
• Pormina Bhosale
• Sudha Vaydande
• Ali Munisa
• Zarina Ansari
• Shabana Sayyed


MAVIM Community Managed resource Centre (CMRC) team that included President Sneha Bhalerao and Vice President Ranjana Gaikwad were also there to offer their help to the Arogyasakhis.

Ms. Sangeeta Bhongade, DCO, MAVIM; The Sahyoginis (10 in number), The President and Vice President of the Community Mobilization Resource Center (CMRC) along with the 123 Arogyasakhis were successful in mobilizing people from the following locations:

The HIV AIDS Game Show 

The HIV AIDS Game show was in the format of a very well known television game show ‘Home Minister’ which is very popular among the lower middle class women of Mumbai. Five celebrities conducted the game show in five zones and two winners were given prizes in each zone. Each winner was presented with a ‘Paithani Saree’ – a very valued asset among women in the Maharashtrian community. 

PRELIMINARY EVENTS

It was ensured that women from all areas had equal representation in all the games. 

Game 1: Pinning the Red Ribbon

This game had 8 participants and 4 rounds. Each round had two women participants competing against each other; they were given a basketful of red-ribbons which they had to pin on the women in the audience, in the shortest span of time. Out of a total of 8 participants, 2 were declared winners. The message of the game being – by pinning the red ribbon, one was taking responsibility and spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Game 2: Balancing the Basket 

Four participants had to balance a basket on their heads and race a short distance. The message here was “the need to balance” their life to “stay protected” from HIV.

Sri. Pushkar Shrotri dancing with the participants

Game 3: Choose the correct partner

16 women were given a chit with the name of an animal, and by making the sound of it; each participant had to look for their ‘pair’. The message here was the “need to look for and stay faithful” to the “right partner”. 

Game 4: Passing the parcel

Instead of passing any parcel, participants had to touch the woman beside them. The person, who was touched last, had to answer an HIV/AIDS related question. The embedded message here was that “HIV doesn’t spread through touch (physical contact)”.

Game 5: Intergroup Quiz

Sri. Umesh Kamat gifting a Saree to a participant

A participant from one area would challenge another from another area by way of an HIV related question. The game infused both competition and stressed on the need for correct and proper knowledge. This was also the only event where there was an engagement with the audience and where the message was emphasised more than the medium.  

Game 6: HIV/AIDS Quiz

2 winners from each of the previous games formed the participants for this quiz. 2 rounds of HIV/AIDS related technical and services oriented questions were asked, with 2 participants with leading scored being declared as winners.

FINALE:

The Finale featured 

• A KBC Style - HIV/AIDS Quiz event, where 10 women finalists from each of the ground events participated. Quiz included HIV/AIDS related technical, services questions as well as a number of audio/visual questions. The Quiz was hosted by celebrity guest Tushar Dalvi. 

• Musical and Dance performances which had HIV related messages embedded in them.
• A skit on HIV/AIDS was put up by celebrities Siddharth Zadbuke and Shraddha Ketkar.

                                         FIRST EVENT

1. Registration; 2. MDACS Project Director Dr. Kudalkar giving away a prize;
3. A lady from the audience answering a question on HIV; 4. Audience at MDACS, Wadala. 

This was held on December 1, 2011 at MDACS premises and the Arogyasakhis belonging to Harbour Zone mobilized women from Sewree, Sion, Chunabhatti, Kurla, Govandi, Mazgaon and Worli. 445 women attended the programme with Smt. Smita Jaykar as the celebrity speaker. 

SMITA JAYKAR: “If woman set their minds, the target of “Getting to Zero” can be achieved easily. They can act as agents of change. Woman can play a vital role in developing the nation.”

SECOND EVENT

1. Registration; 2. A woman answering a question on HIV;
3. Celebrity guest Madhura Velankar dancing with the women;
4. Smt. Velankar giving away the prize

On December 2, 2011, Smt. Madhura Velankar was the celebrity guest at the programme organized at Balvikas Sangh, Chembur. The Arogyasakhis from Harbour Zone mobilized women from Chembur, Anushakti Nagar (Mankhurd) and Trombay (Mankhurd). 490 women attended the show. 

MADHURA VELANKAR: “It is good to see that more and more women are joining the Campaign, “HitgujAarogyache” to spread information related to HIV/AIDS.”

THIRD EVENT

1. Registration; 2. The participants taking part in the game on stage;
3. A woman answering a question on HIV; 4. The audience

The Arogyasakhis from the Central Zone mobilized women from Kamgar Kalyan Bhavan, Kannamwar Nagar to the same venue on December 5, 2011. 500 women attended the event while Sri. Pushkar Shrotri was invited as the celebrity guest. 

PUSHKAR SHROTRI: “I am always supportive of such issues and I have always been a part of HIV/AIDS related activities. I have also traveled with the RED RIBBON EXPRESS.

FOURTH EVENT

1. Registration; 2. A woman answering a question on HIV;
3. Celebrity guest dancing with the women; 4. The audience

Women from the areas of Bhandup, Mulund, Kanjurmarg and Ghatkopar were mobilized by Arogyasakhis from Harbour Zone. Everyone assembled at Kapol Wadi Hall, Ghatkopar (West) on December 8, 2011 for the event. The celebrity guest was Sri. Umesh Kamat. 575 women attended this event. 

UMESH KAMAT: “I have just got married and I can proudly share that we both got ourselves tested for HIV. I am really impressed to see such a huge response from women because a few years back I used to be scared even to speak about it but you people are talking comfortably.”

FIFTH EVENT 

Enthusiastic women registering for the event at Lokmanya Sewa Sangh

This event was held on December 9, 2011 at Lokmanya Sewa Sangh, Vile Parle. The Arogyasakhis from the Western Zone mobilized women from Malad, Andheri, Goregaon, Jogeshwari, Santacruz, Khar, Bandra and Vile Parle. 300 women showed up for this event that had Sri. Vijay Kadam as the celebrity guest.

VIJAY KADAM: “I am proud to be a witness of Women Empowerment Drive led by MDACS in coordination with MAVIM. Women only can take a lead to achieve the target of “Getting to Zero”. Work done so far by you is a big achievement. I salute MDACS for the keen efforts taken to mainstream the issue into the society.”

THE SUCCESS OF THE WHOLE SERIES WAS THAT 2310 WOMEN ATTENDED THE CELEBRATIONS AS AGAINST THE 2000 PLANNED.