HIV, AIDS awareness creation by John Keells
December 1, 2011 marks World AIDS Day. Even after 24 years of the
first HIV case reported in Sri Lanka, there are still many unaware of
basic facts relating to HIV and AIDS.
Under the John Keells HIV and AIDS Awareness Campaign launched in
2005, Master Trainers from the John Keells Group, as well as doctors
from the National STD/AIDS Control Programme of the Health Ministry have
joined in the immense task of spreading awareness on HIV and AIDS,
particularly among the working population of the island, given that the
virus is most prevalent among those aged 15-59 and hence considered a
threat to the economic and social well-being of the country.
John Keells Group, under its CSR arm, John Keells Foundation, is the
first private sector company in Sri Lanka to embark on HIV and AIDS
awareness creation among varied communities including businesses,
hotels, armed forces, prisons and educational institutions.
The ways in which the virus spreads and could be prevented, the ways
in which the virus cannot be transmitted and the care and support needed
by the infected and the affected are covered under the awareness
sessions of the John Keells programme. Awareness sessions were first
conducted among the staff of the John Keells Group, and gradually
extended to include other organizations, both private and public.
The programme has to date educated more than 38,000 persons across
Sri Lanka - the highest number of persons educated on HIV and AIDS by a
private sector entity in Sri Lanka. |