Pics: Sandeep Theophil
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Dec 2: On Wednesday December 1, a unique campaign on the occasion of World AIDS Day, ‘Fight Stigma and Half-truths, and using the Right Language.’ from a Christian perspective, was inaugurated by Rev S D Aiman (area chairman, CSI-KSD, Mangalore Area), and Rev Edward Karkada (area chairman, CSI-churches in Udupi Area), in the presence of Rev Hannibal Cabral (secretary KACES), and all the CSI pastors from Mangalore and Udupi districts.

‘Sahaaya’, a service-based institution of the Karnataka Christian Educational Society (KACES), is involved in advocacy. The goal of this campaign is to influence faith communities and other organisations to refocus on issues related to HIV prevention and overcome stigma associated with it. It also advocates using of right words in place of stigmatizing words while referring to suffering people and their conditions. Emphasizing that human suffering is not an occasion for the people to make judgments or to debate as to who or what the cause of suffering is, it calls upon people to join hands and offer unconditional care and compassion to the people living with HIV/AIDS.

‘Sahaaya’ believes that it is within this framework of mutual love, trust and affirmation that we find the grace to introspect and become responsive and responsible individuals, families and communities. Rev Sandeep Theophil co-ordinates the programmes of Sahaaya.