Street play to create awareness against AIDS among Manipuris

Imphal, Sept 13 : As a part of an AIDS awareness programme, different NGOs and social groups in Manipur are performing street plays under the project 'Asha'. With the message 'Know AIDS for no AIDS' a street play titled 'Lanphamda Lan', which means 'War in Warfare' is being staged in every nook and corner of all nine districts of Manipur.

The play aims at preventing residents from becoming victims of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV.

Organized by different NGOs with the assistance of Family Welfare Department of Government of India, the team has performed over 300 times across the state. "Through the play, youth who are ignorant will be able to learn and understand. If everyone understands, we will be able to control the dreaded disease," said Sarju, an artist. "I am really happy as I have learned so many things about HIV/AIDS, which I did not know earlier. I have learnt the ill effects of the disease. Due to the immoral activities in the society, many of the youths are becoming victims of the disease. Through the play, I've learnt the do's and don's to prevent the disease," Rita Devi, a resident. Manipur, which has only 0.2 percent of the total national population, is home to nearly eight percent of the total HIV positive patients in the country. Most of the patients in Manipur belong to the lower strata of the society and have been infected due to the use of infected syringes. By L.C.K Singh

ANI