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Sunday November 26 2006 09:11 IST
PTI
NEW DELHI: On world AIDS day, a galaxy of Bollywood stars, including Shilpa Shetty and Rahul Bose, will perform in a show here to raise awareness about preventing HIV infections.
Popular TV actress Mona Singh, best known as Jassi, will perform a dance number with children choreographed especially by Shamak Davar at the National stadium on December one. Earlier that day, President A P J Kalam will address members of parliament and release a special stamp to commemorate the occasion.
"President Kalam will be addressing MPs and will release the stamp," National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) Director General Sujatha Rao told PTI. She said the evening's cultural show is planned to educate and create awareness among children and youth about Hiv-AIDS and its implications.
"We are organising an exhibition, laser show, puppetry programmes and pantomimes, which are the best mediums to catch the attention of young minds," she said.
"The idea behind the show is to create awareness among people and to target the youth," Rao said. According to NACO, there are 5.2 million HIV-infected people in the country, with 85.7 per cent of HIV infections through sexual intercourse.
Rao said Kailash Kher will perform at the show along with many other TV stars.
Rao said apart from the mega-event, which has been jointly organised by UNAIDS, the NGO Charkha, Hero's project and other partners, two mobile vans will be launched to cover over 35 different locations in the city. "The aim is to draw people out, make them break their silence and make them talk about issues which they are shy of doing," she said.
"We will be doing infotainment programmes, organise quiz shows and give them gifts for right answers and ask them to take a pledge to protect themselves and their families," she said.
"We want to promote safe behaviour and practices." Rao said red ribbon clubs will also be formed in 72 colleges in Delhi, where students will pledge to donate blood in future.
Good stuff!!
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