India has over 5 million HIV positive people. Many experts fear that after Africa, there might be an AIDS bomb ticking away in our country.
And, there is hardly any concerted effort to combat the killer disease. Even India Inc is ill-prepared.
But now, some companies are gearing up to fight the deadly virus.
- The Steel Authority of India is working in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Organisation and the World Bank towards building awareness to combat the biggest killer of our times. It has roped in union leaders to educate other workers.
- The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation uses mass media and infotainment to educate labourers.
- Tata Motors' medical benefit schemes extend to those suffering from HIV/AIDS, reimbursing them for the treatment of the disease.
- DCM Shriram Consolidated's Kota plant is setting up an anti-retroviral drug distribution centre and voluntary counselling and testing centres.
- At Tata Steel, AIDS awareness programmes form a part of the managing and deputy managing directors' score cards.
- The Confederation of Indian Industry also has a training programme on anti-retroviral therapy which includes discussions, case study presentations on initiation of treatment, dose of drugs, treatment of unusual infections and development of resistance to anti-HIV drugs.
- Reliance Industries Limited, Hazira and Lok VIkas Sanstha -- a local non-governmental organisation -- are training 50,000 workers in 200 industrial units.
In the picture: On the occasion of World AIDS Day on December 1, the makers of Fevicol -- Pidilite Industries--have launched an advertisement extending support to the cause of spreading AIDS awareness.
Photograph: Courtesy Pidilite Industries
