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Education & Communication
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Information, Education and Communication (IEC) section creates HIV/AIDS awareness
among the general population. It also designs and implements awareness programs
for reducing the stigma and discrimination and influence, on individual behavior
that protects people against HIV infection. The section also works with Blood Safety
& SBTC to promote Voluntary Blood Donation among Youth through RRCs and youth clubs.
As per the requirement of socio-demographic position of Chandigarh, IEC activities
have been formulated, taking into consideration the diverse cultural, linguistic
and social backgrounds of different communities across the state with the following
objectives :-
- To create awareness on RTI/STI/HIV/AIDS among various sections of the people, including
those in high-risk categories, vulnerable groups, and general population.
- To provide accurate information on HIV/AIDS and dispel myths and misconceptions.
- To create a supportive environment and generate demand for quality health services.
- To promote behavior change for prevention with the target of zero new infections.
- To promote community involvement in care and support of People Living with HIV-AIDS
(PLHA).
- To promote the blood donation to achieve the target of availability of 100% voluntary,
non remunerated, non exchanged quality blood.
- To bring all the government and non government organizations under the umbrella
of healthy and scientific knowledge of HIV/AIDS through mainstreaming.
- To implement the work place prevention National Policy of HIV/AIDS and the World
of Works.
These objectives has been achieving through certain activities as mentioned under:-
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Mass media
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Mass media activity having the potential to create widespread awareness on HIV/AIDS,
to promote the positive attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS, and influence
people to change their high risk behavior that make them vulnerable to the infection.
It has a pivotal role to play in a fight against AIDS. CSACS use the mass media
in following ways:-
Long Format Radio Program: - In FY 2010-11 ?Phone ?in- Program?
was relayed through All India Radio FM radio on every 3rd Wednesday in which public
was invited to ask questions regarding different issues on HIV/AIDS and one expert
in the field gave replies to their queries. In the current financial year a story
based on AIDS awareness along with interview of resource person is being broadcast
on All India Radio on every Tuesday at 10.30 am.
Special Campaign on FM Radio: - On certain special events a special
campaigns of 30 seconds spots are being relayed on FM radios. For example, on the
occasion of World Blood Donor?s Day a special one month campaign was relayed on
MY FM & Big FM from 14th June to 15th July 2011. Similarly on World AIDS Day one
month campaign was relayed form 1st to 31st December 2011 and one special 5 days
campaign form 11th 14th February, 2012 was relayed on Valentine?s Day. The campaign
on theme of STI and Condom Promotion was executed from 22.4.10 to 21.05.10.
Awareness message of HIV/AIDS through Spot and Scroll advertisements over local
cable TV has also been displayed since last two years. Awareness has also been generated
through display of messages on LED Screens and other TV sets located at Railway
Station, Chandigarh.
Print media is used to create awareness through specially designed advertisements
on various occasions like International Youth Day, World AIDS Day, World Blood Donor?s
Day, International Women?s Day etc. All leading news papers are invited to cover
the function so that common man can know the activities being conducted by CSACS,
so that the public could avail the facilities.
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Printing of IEC Material and wall writings
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Various types of posters, pamphlets/leaflets, brochures, booklets and other reading
material with attractive slogans and appropriate knowledge of HIV/AIDS along with
the address of all service centers of CSACS have been developed. For printing of
these materials a consortium of all concerned stakeholders were consulted. They
developed creative content representing all the on-going interventions/activities
being run by CSACS. The printed IEC material covers all the detailed information
of all concerned issues like Prevention of HIV, Services available by CSACS, Blood
Donation, Condom Use, Symptoms and prevention of STI/RTIs. Drug Abuse and its prevention.
Say No to Homophobia, ABC mode of Prevention. Toll Free Help Line No i.e. 1097,
Booklets on Adolescent Education Program, HIV & TB, identification and prevention
etc. all the material is available in Hindi, English and Punjabi. CSACS also has
40 Sun pack awareness kits.
In addition to the reading material, certain attractive slogans on all related issues
have flashed through wall writings, Posters, and Permanent hoardings. The wall writings
and hoardings have been installed mainly on slum & rural areas, dispensaries & hospitals,
Schools, Colleges, transport area, Petrol Pumps, ISBT 17 & 43 and other public places.
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Out Door & Mid Media Activities
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CSACS conducts many field activities for creative awareness among the community.
For promoting the HIV prevention message, CSACS arranges Nukkar Nataks, Puppet Shows,
Magic Shows, Rallies, Candle March, etc. In various major dispensaries and hospitals,
educational institutions, Bus stand, Community Centers CSACS has installed permanent
hoardings with preventive messages. Some remaining intuitions, community centers
will be covered soon.
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Different campaign
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CSACS conducts certain special mega awareness programs on specific events, for example,
World AIDS Day, World Blood Donor?s Day, International Blood Donation Day, International
& National Youth Day etc.
On World AIDS Day 2009, a mass rally was conducted in which more than 2000 participants
from different organizations. In 2010, a human chain was formed from PGI to Housing
Board Chock, Manimajara. On the occasion of World AIDS Day 2011, a Regional level
conference ?AIDSCON 2011? was organized in PGIMER Chandigarh in which more than
500 participants attended the 2 days of extremely interesting research papers presented
on the various issues of HIV/AIDS.Work done by independent agency on HIV/AIDS in
the Region was consolidated.
Every year on the occasion of International Candle Memorial i.e.
3rd Sunday of May, CSACS observes the day as a tribute to HIV victims. In 2010 a
Candle March was conducted at village Palsora with 2500 participants. On 15th May
2011, a Candle March was held at Sukhna Lake where more than 800 people participated.
One Cycle Rally was arranged in July 2009, in which more than 500
cyclists took part. The rally started from 4 corners in the out skirts of the city
and concluded at University student centre
Mini Marathon was organized by State AIDS Control Society, U.T.,
Chandigarh in collaboration with Rotract Club on November 3rd, 2008. In this Mini
Marathon approximately 800 nos. of students from different parts of the city participated
for HIV/AIDS awareness.
CSACS takes part in State Science Exhibition being organized every
year at State Institute of Education. In this Exhibition, CSACS exhibit its IEC
activities of HIV/AIDS awareness and conducts free Counseling & Testing for HIV.
Chandigarh Carnival and Rose Festival: - CSACS takes part in major
festivals of Chandigarh. Two such festivals are Chandigarh Carnival and Rose Festivals.
On all the functions CSACS exhibit its stall of IEC activities. The objective is
to create awareness specifically among youth. Small quiz games, balloon games and
Street Plays, Magic Shows and Puppet Shows add to the festive occasion.
Sh. K.K. Sharma, Administrator, Chandigarh Administration also visit the stall of
CSACS on the occasion of Chandigarh Carnival 2011 observed between 24th to 27th
November 2011.
Cultural Events CSACS also conducts some cultural events with the
messages of HIV prevention. One such program ?SHAAM-e-GHAZAL? was conducted on the
occasion of World AIDS Day 2009. In this program well known Bollywood Ghazal play
back singer, Sh. Vinod Sehgal recited many popular Ghazals including his own in
Machis ?Chod aye hum wo galiyan?. He sang at a stretch for 2.1/2 hour and also gave
the preventive messages of HIV/AIDS
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Red Ribbon Express Campaign
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Red Ribbon Express stayed in Chandigarh from October 13th, 2010 to 16th, 2010. The
primary focus of RRE was on rural areas & aimed at (i) disseminating information
regarding primary prevention services; (ii) developing an understanding about the
disease to reduce stigma & discrimination against People Living with HIV/AIDS and;
(iii) strengthening people?s knowledge about the measures to be taken to prevent
getting HIV/AIDS; and (iv) Adopting preventive health habits and lifestyle.
Chief Guest, Sh. Pradip Mehra, IAS, Advisor to the Administrator, U.T., Chandigarh
formally opened this Train to the Public. Among other dignitaries, who were present
at Railway Station include Mr. Ram Niwas, Secretary Health, Dr. M.S. Bains, DHS,
U.T., Chandigarh.
During the four days stay of the Red Ribbon Express at Chandigarh total number of
12,549 nos. of visitors visit the train which includes students from Schools and
Colleges, Migrant Population etc visited in large number at railway Station to see
the Train. Others were Paramilitary Forces, Nurses, Slum Dwellers, ANMs, Anganwari
Workers, Teachers, FSWs, MSMs, Migrants and General Population. Besides CSACS various
other departments viz. Department of Education, Health, Social Welfare, Public Relation,
Police, Municipal Corporation, Song & Drama Division, Directorate of Field and Publicity,
All India Radio, Doordarshan, Railways, Red Cross Society, Sports and various NGOs
actively participated to make RRE project at Chandigarh a success.
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Chandigarh SACS and PD CSACS were awarded by NACO as one of the best performing
states in the country.
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IEC Van
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During the RRE visit in Chandigarh, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society hired
a specially fabricated IEC Van that moved around in slum and rural areas. Folk Troupes
accompanied this Van and made people aware about HIV/AIDS at their doorsteps. Cultural
Performances were also staged for the public at Railway Station by the troupes of
CSACS. The van moved around for 30 days.
To making the community aware about HIV/AIDS the IEC Van activity was repeated in
2012 as well. An IEC fabricated Van/Truck moved in the city for one month which
started on the occasion of republic Day 2012. In the one month, all the Slum, Village
& Urban areas of Chandigarh was covered. On this truck certain IEC activities were
performed along with Nukkar Nataks, Magic Shows, Puppet Shows and condom Promotion
activities.
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Participation in the Republic Day Parade
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Every Year CSACS participates in the parade of Republic Day with its tableau with
the message of HIV prevention and safe life style. The theme of the tableau of 2012
was ?Surakshit Maa Surakshit Bachha? which was prepared in collaboration with NRHM.
The Tableau won the third prize for its attractiveness and useful messaging.
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Adoption of Villages for 100% Awareness
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Awareness programs are run with the help of NRHM under Swasthya Manch Program. It
is a unique activity to achieve 100 % awareness level regarding HIV/AIDS in the
specially adopted villages by CSACS. In the year 2010, two villages i.e. Burail
and Attawa were adopted. In the current year, two villages Khudda Lahura, & Kuda
Alisher has been adapted by CSACS with the same motive. Exhibitions and awareness
material are put up in every Health Melas being organized by NRHM, or CSACS.
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HIV awareness at schools
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As per the NACO guidelines the HIV awareness starts at the High school level. Adolescence
is the age where HIV education can be delivered in effective way because it is the
age of curiosity and starts to indulge in sexual activities. So it is essential
to make them awareness about HIV. For this adolescence Education Program has been
launched at school level. Till now 114 schools out of 126 (govt. and private) have
been trained. The rest of the Schools will be covered soon. On the occasion of International
Youth Day i.e. 12th August 2011, CSACS in association with Vision De Monde (A volunteer
society of students) conducted a full month campaign was conducted for School students
including poster making Slogan writing, Rangoli Making, Essay Writing, and Declamation
Contests. The winner of these competitions were awarded by Sh./ DK Tiwari, IAS,
Special Secretary Health, UT administration Chandigarh. In January 2012, a special
campaign ?Goonje 2012? was organized with the help of Punjab University Students
in which certain IEC activities were conducted for the university students.
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Work place Prevention
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CSACS has started the awareness at workplaces by implementing the ?National Policy
on HIV /AIDS and the World of Works? in the city. Certain Corporate companies and
govt offices have been sensitized to implement the policy.
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Toll free Help Line No
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Making aware and to fill the gap of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related issues, CSACS
has been running a toll free telephone AIDS helps line i.e. 1097 since 1st January
1999. Till now, more than 10,98, 000 enquiries have been received on this call and
in the current financial year 54713 were received till the end of January, 2012.
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