SriLankan Cares joined the fight against AIDS, partnering a host of local organisations to create greater public awareness of the deadly disease, on 1st December – World Health Day.
The programme involved 500 volunteers fanning out across Colombo on that day starting from the Viharamahadevi Park, carrying 10,000 leaflets and other promotional materials about AIDS. Meanwhile, four other cities were visited by street theatre groups to communicate the message through creative arts, humour and drama.
Members of the public were invited to contribute their thoughts by painting on a large banner at the Viharamahadevi amphitheatre. A large number of Sri Lanka’s clergy of various religions, and celebrities joined in the effort.
The programme concluded with the lighting of 1,000 candles as a symbol of hope that night.
The programme was carried out in conjunction with Save Lanka Kids, the Community Strength Development Foundation, Hope Youth Foundation, National HIV & AIDS Control Programme, LEADS, CCF-Sri Lanka, and FIDA.
More than 39.5 million people worldwide were living with HIV or AIDS at the end of 2006, nearly 1,000 of whom were in Sri Lanka. |
