Tibetans Observe World AIDS Day

By Demay Tsering / December 4, 2014;

Tibetans around India observed World AIDS Day by organising events at schools and settlements to spread awareness of the disease that has claimed the lives of at least 30 Tibetans living in exile.

Tsering Wangchuk
Photo: tibet.net

Tsering Wangchuk, Minister in the Tibetan Government-in-Exile Department of Health, said that with no cure for HIV, the need is prevention of new infection and to support those living with HIV, both in terms of medical treatment and social empowerment, in order to live a productive life without discrimination. “A continuous ongoing effort” is needed, he said. The Department of Health is launching a mobile HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, targeting Tibetans at the various sweater selling areas across India.

Kunphen Centre for Substance Dependence and Lha Charitable Trust Event in McLeod Ganj
Photo: Lha Charitable Trust

In Dharamshala, World AIDS Day was observed at an event with the theme “Close the gap in HIV prevention and treatment”. The event was organised jointly by the Kunphen Centre for Substance Dependence and Lha Charitable Trust, with Delek Hospital, and started in the main square in Mcleod Ganj with a “welcome tea”. Pamphlets in three languages were distributed along with ribbons, brochures and free condoms for the public. An HIV/AIDS awareness demonstration took place around the market, manned by volunteers with locals eagerly participating. Delek Hospital offered free blood tests for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B which was taken up by 60 people and the day finished with an awareness talk at the Tibetan Settlement Office Hall by Ms Tenzin Dhazay of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Health Department.

Overall, more than 800 people took part in the event which was part sponsored by a Lha volunteer and her family.

World AIDS Day commemorates those who have died from the disease, and campaigns to to support those who are suffering and to make a collective effort to prevent new infections and to create an AIDS-free generation. The theme for World AIDS Day this year is “Getting zero: Zero new infection, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths.”