IMPHAL, May 18: The yearlong International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Observation 2012 kicked off with a painting competition today at Keishampat Keisham Leikai community hall.
According to a release of the organizing committee said, 36 children studying in class one to nine took part in the competition organized for children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
The competition saw 14 children, deprived of their parents, from Carmel Jyoti Care Centre in Imphal East wielding the brush. The centre is presently looking after 48 children most of them living with HIV and AIDS. Of the 14 children who took part in the competition 11 are on ART.
Speaking at the occasion Shyamacharan, general secretary, All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) and a member of the organizing committee said that such joint efforts will ensure people release the need to come together in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Further it said, for the first time civil organizations, human rights groups, lawyers, drug user, positive and Nupi Manbi networks and NGOs in the state are coming together to observe the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2012 which falls on May 20 and continue it as a year-long state level campaign for solidarity in fighting the epidemic.
“This competition is different; we want them (the participants) to feel important and cared for. Through this campaign we want to convey that each one of us has a responsibility towards people who are in need and help them live with dignity”, said Phoni, secretary general, AMADA.
Spearheading the campaign the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), a state level network of community based organizations of drug users, is planning a series of activities in keeping with the theme of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2012-‘Promoting health and dignity together’.
The painting competition is a part of the yearlong observation of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2012 jointly organized by sixteen organizations- All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA), Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), Centre for Organization Research and Education (CORE), Human Rights Alert (HRA), Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA), Kuki Women Union (KWU), Kripa Society, Care Foundation, Lifeline Foundation, Dedicated People’s Union (DPU), Manipur Cycle Club (MCC), Coalition Against Drug Abuse and Alcoholism (CADA), Christian Network of Positive Women of Manipur (CNPWM), All Manipur Nupi manbi Association (AMNA), Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infected in India (SAATHII).