World Record Attempt Of Longest Red Ribbon Created by Hand Prints of Children
Children are the invisible face of HIV epidemic in Uttar Pradesh. More than 90% of transmission of HIV in children below 15 years of age occurs through parent to child transmission route. Even though 2499 male and 1271 female children living with HIV have been registered at different anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centers is the state, this number represent only a small proportion of the total children living with HIV in the state.
HIV progresses very rapidly in children and as high as 50% of them die within two years of the life without treatment. Those who survive initial two years of life face many challenges. Often they are orphaned at a young age and after the death of the father, the mother and children are forced out of the family by the in-laws. They are ostracized in the community, in school, hospital and other service delivery points.
In order to spread awareness about the issues related to the children living with or affected by HIV and AIDS; UMMEED, UNICEF, Head Quarter Central Command and Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, together with other partners are attempting a campaign around an event for creating the longest red ribbon on earth using the hand-prints of children on 6 May, 2012, a day before the International AIDS orphans day on 7 May, 2012.
This event is organized at Butchery Ground, Cantonment, Lucknow. The theme of this event is “Zero discrimination with in children whether they are any color, cast, culture,religion and origin will participate in the program.
There is evidence that discrimination against these children occur as a result of myths and misconceptions prevalent in the society. For instance, there are many examples of children affected by AIDS being expelled from the school because of the complaints from parents of other children, who think that their children will be infected with HIV, if they study in the same school with children affected by AIDS. It is a well-established fact that HIV is not transmitted though day-today social interaction of sitting and eating in the same room, touching a HIV positive person, sharing the toilets etc.
Uttar Pradesh is a highly vulnerable state to HIV and AIDS. Even though the prevalence of HIV has stabilized at a low level in the population, there are many factors, which make its population highly vulnerable. There are large migrant populations from the entire state. Most of the persons living with HIV and AIDS in the state are either current or returning migrants or their family members. The HIV prevalence is especially high in the districts of eastern part of the state, from where there is very high out migration to high HIV prevalence states like Maharashtra, Karnataka.
A number of partners have joined hands in this important initiative. These include, in addition of those mentioned above, Uttar Pradesh Welfare for People Living with HIV and AIDS, Jyoti Enviro, Sonchiraiya, Malik Foundation, RK Awasthi, HLLFPT, Pearl International tour & travels, JJ Bakers, Fryo, PICASO, ICICI Bank, Life Insurance Corporation of India. Officials of Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of World Records will be present during the event.
UMMED chairperson Ms Usha Awasthi stated that Current longest awareness ribbon measures 408.55 m (1,340 ft 4.8 in) and was achieved by Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha (both USA), at Camp Simcha, Glen Spey, New York, USA, on 18 July 2011.
UMMEED is the Non Profitable Organization working with poor, slum and HIV/AIDS people and with there children in Uttar Pradesh. While working with them we found that these children face many challenges in the field of Education and Health and also face the Stigma, Discrimination in the society. Sir, UMMEED is working with these children from last 9 years and supporting the Education fees support of 104 HIV/AIDS infected and affected children in all over Uttar Pradesh. UMMEED is running UMMEED Health Clinic, UMMEED Physiotherapy Center, UMMEED Education Center in Lucknow.
