“End AIDS India” will harness people power nationwide to make HIV a priority issue for all

Shiamak Davar joins “End AIDS India” – the latest Hero for Zero HIV/AIDS!

Mumbai – In the week marking the 25th anniversary of World AIDS Day, it’s more clear than ever that for India to capitalize on recent gains made in addressing HIV, everyone must become involved in the effort to reverse the epidemic. End AIDS India is a new initiative being shaped to provide the opportunity for citizens to become “Heroes for Zero” — zero new HIV infections; zero stigma and discrimination; and zero AIDS-related deaths.

Among them, the Mumbai-based internationally renowned choreographer and singer Shiamak Davar and his Victory Arts Foundation who are putting on a special free performance at High Street Phoenix on Friday, December 6, to highlight the cause.

End AIDS India is spearheaded by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and five of its linking organisations across India: MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, LEPRA Society, India HIV/AIDS Alliance, Humsafar Trust and Vasavya Mahila Mandali. Between them they cover a range of issues pertaining to HIV, from the prevention of mother to child transmission to the protection and empowerment of especially vulnerable populations.

“India has made impressive strides in combating HIV, reducing the number of new infections by more than 50 percent over the past decade,” noted Roy Wadia, part of the core End AIDS India team. “But if we are to truly end AIDS, all of us must get involved, by supporting the excellent work key NGOs are doing and removing for once and for all the very real stigma that is still attached to HIV – stigma which remains at the heart of the challenge to ensure that people living with or affected by HIV are treated with compassion, understanding and dignity so that they can lead normal, healthy and productive lives. So come, join us. Believe. Be counted.”

“We can educate and empower through various ways, including entertainment,” explained Shiamak. “Serious messages can be imparted effectively through the arts and inspire millions to take action. I’m honoured to support End AIDS India which encompasses the great work many NGOs are doing to secure an AIDS-free future. Let’s make the impossible possible.”

To celebrate his partnership with End AIDS India, Shiamak Davar and his Victory Arts Dancers will be making a special appearance at High Street Phoenix in Lower Parel, Mumbai, at 5pm on Friday, December 6. The performance is free and the public are invited to attend and participate in an evening of music and dance.

Other key supporters for the event are venue partner High Street Phoenix and radio partner Big FM.

For more on the event and on the End AIDS India initiative, including the partner NGOs and campaigns that are involved and the work that they do, please visit www.endaidsindia.org as well as our social media platforms on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EndAIDSIndia), Twitter (@EndAIDSIndia) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/EndAIDSIndia).