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Breaking the HIV stigma

n a unique and unprecedented effort to bring science and arts together to break the perceived stigma about HIV in…

Breaking the HIV stigma

Representational Image (Photo: Getty Images)

n a unique and unprecedented effort to bring science and arts together to break the perceived stigma about HIV in India, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), Delhi-based ‘PULSE’ and New York-based ‘Delhi Dance Theatre’ are organising a collaborative dance theatre performance about working and living with HIV in India and the quest to find a vaccine, on the occasion of the World HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD) on 18 May in New Delhi.

Titled, ‘I Am +’ (I Am Positive), the event would be a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort in the country, developed by musicians, visual artists and scientists.

IAVI-India Communications and Advocacy Consultant Devi Leena Bose said on Wednesday that the event would help the common person understand the character of HIV, the socio-psychological impact on the life of a person who tests positive for HIV and the science behind the ongoing research in the fight against the deadly virus.

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People would get a chance to interact directly with scientists and researchers involved in HIV research. They would also get an opportunity to learn about the lives of several HIV positive persons, who would be present on the occasion to share their varied experiences.

The event, to be held at the LTG Auditorium in the evening, would begin with a lobby art fair including HIV illustration stories by illustrator Indu Harikumar and IAVI. There would also be interactive photo and video stations to provide a deeper insight into the subject.

After the dance theatre performance, there would be an interactive panel discussion offering an opportunity for the audience to engage with the artists and experts on HIV.

The experts available during the interactive panel discussion would be World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Dr Nicole Seguy, IAVI’s Dr Maggie Keane, Dr Gagandeep Kang of THSTI and Anjali Gopalan of the Naaz Foundation.

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