World AIDS Day 2019 – “Communities make the difference.”

World AIDS Day is celebrated throughout the world on 1st December. However, at CCDT we did not celebrate for a day but for a week. The theme of World AIDS Day this year was “Communities make the difference.”  The theme correlates so well with CCDT’s goals of working with beneficiaries who are infected/ affected by HIV/AIDS, being the oldest programme of CCDT. Although, only the RCP and HBC programme work on the thematic of HIV/AIDS, World AIDS Day is still recognized and celebrated across all programmes at CCDT.

The World AIDS Day Campaign kicked off with the launch of the Jindagi App. The Jindagi App is one of a kind app in the world, for people living with HIV/AIDS where they will be able to access information related to HIV/AIDS through audio-visuals on the kiosks at the ART centres over and above the app which can be downloaded on their phones. CCDT with support from Bajaj Finserv has contributed in setting up 2 kiosks at the ART centres at the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS). 

MDACS, hosted a weeklong event in support of those infected/affected by HIV/AIDS where CCDT was invited to participate. One the first day, CCDT distributed comfort bags to the beneficiaries (widows) of the Home-Based Care program. And On the following day, a series of fun activities and events were planned with the children who danced away and showcase their talent with brilliant dance performances embedded with key messages on HIV/AIDS. .

On 2nd December, the children from our Residential Care Programme had a fun filled evening with games, laughter and dancing with volunteers from the MAC AIDS Fund. Each Volunteer was teamed with a group of children to create art on how HIV/AIDS effects their daily life.

Throughout the week, various other awareness drives were conducted across all the programmes of CCDT. Mumbai University partnered with CCDT to spread key messages on HIV/AIDS and the importance of adhering to the treatment through engagement activities on campus with students. Project Sahyog at Borivali National Park also had an awareness drive and distributed badges to all visitors, in support of the cause of HIV/AIDS. Similarly, the Railway Childline programme had an awareness drive at CSTM station and distributed badges to all travellers to support the cause of HIV/AIDS. We also supported the free testing initiative organized by MDACS at CSTM.

At the Health and Nutrition Programmes in the high burden areas of Bhiwandi, various awareness drives were conducted through pamphlet distribution in the intervention areas and communities.

Finally, an alumni meet was organized for the children of the Residential Care Programme (RCP). This reunion brought together all the children who have been successfully integrated into the community. About 50 children, attended this joyous event and reminisced of their time with CCDT.