AIDS Free Mumbai Campaign (Since 1998 onwards)

38 lac people are affected by HIV+ve in India out of which 76,000 are in Mumbai. Hence, Yuvak Pratishthan launched a massive AIDS Free Mumbai Campaign in the year 2001 and has nearly reached 1 crore people directly or indirectly. The aim of Yuvak Pratishthan is to create mass awareness amongst the people by circulating pamphlets, through Street Plays, Banners & Hoardings.

In the past one-year, special lectures for girl students of 9th grade to Degree College were organised. General one to one awareness programmes in slums were organised. Awareness in the police force & voluntary blood test @ Rs. 5/- was done. Nearly 25,000 security guards were approached for AIDS awareness. Yuvak Pratishthan also focused on educating commercial sex workers, truckers, construction workers, college students and the younger generation about AIDS. Two-day exhibitions were held at various places. Well known NGO's like 'CARE FOUNDATION' & 'PRERNA' actively participated in this campaign along with NSS students of Mumbai University.

Yuvak Pratishthan is striving to bring down the AIDS medicine prices from Rs. 4000/-p.m. to Rs. 1000/- or less in 12 months and make it more affordable to the people especially the poor. It also focused on motivating chemists and druggists for concession in medicines to the people affected with AIDS. Yuvak Pratishthan did awareness among doctors for accepting HIV+ve patients. Mahila Mandals were asked to motivate mothers to talk to their children about sex problems by using the platform of cultural functions like haldi kumkum.

'AIDS Free Mumbai' Campaign is the biggest campaign run by any NGO. Reached to nearly 1 Crore people directly or indirectly.

Objectives: Complete awareness and prevention taking behavior in the society about HIV / AIDS

Area of Operation: Mumbai

Methods/Strategies: Mass awareness & Counseling

Outcome: Mass mobilization on the issue:

Next