Every year, December 1st is observed as AIDS Awareness Day, a global initiative dedicated to educating people about HIV/AIDS, promoting prevention, and supporting those living with the disease. This day also serves as a solemn reminder of the lives lost to AIDS and the pressing need for collective action to combat this public health challenge. At JD School of Design, we took a significant step in this direction by organizing an insightful session led by two esteemed medical professionals, Dr. Hemalini J and Dr. Vaibhava K R, General Practitioners at Excel Care Hospital. The event was a powerful blend of education, interaction, and inspiration, leaving a lasting impact on our students and community.
The session started with a warm welcome of the doctors who came aboard. They set the tone for the expertise and dedication to the treatment of AIDS. They opened with a detailed presentation that took the audience through the history of AIDS, from the first detected case, through its journey as a global epidemic. They explained how HIV leads to AIDS, explaining the symptoms, stages, and types of the disease with clarity. They tackled myths about AIDS head-on, breaking down misconceptions that often lead to stigma and misinformation.
The prevention methods were the most discussed topics, which included safe practices, regular testing, and early diagnosis. The doctors offered practical advice geared toward young people, a segment most vulnerable due to lack of information, peer influence, and dangerous behaviours. The candid dialogue empowers students with knowledge to make informed choices thus reducing the risk of HIV transmission.
The session was not a one-way communication. The method is extremely participative, as students ask questions and seek responses. Questions and answers further developed the curiosity and fears within the minds of the youth- somewhat technical questions regarding AIDS tests, and societal problems such as AIDS-afflicted people facing discrimination are put. To the extent of answering every one of such questions, these doctors have created an ambience which depicts trust and openness.
Dr Hemalini and Dr Vaibhava summed up the fact that every citizen was responsible for the prevention of an AIDS pandemic. The contemporary youth were further motivated to practice and proliferate healthy behaviour, break stigmas, and initiate open talk regarding sexual health and the prevention of disease. Responsibility towards personal health was not only for the person but a step toward an accumulation to build a society HIV/AIDS-free.
This was not only an educational event but a call for action by the NSS team for the students of JD School of Design. It called for healthy practices and community involvement. For the students, it was an eye-opening experience reminding them how very important it is to know the information and spread it. These young people hold the power to make a change, bringing into being a culture of knowledge, care, and support in their communities.
AIDS awareness involves not just learning about the disease but breaking free from the shackles of stigma and fear associated with it. Education goes a long way toward making a person take care of one’s health and making others do it, too. The JD School of Design session proved that knowledge is indeed power and can change one’s path in life.
As we mark AIDS Awareness Day, this fight against HIV/AIDS must be united at the international level and dedicated to the effort of each one of us. Some will do it through awareness, safe behaviour practices, support to the affected population, or advocating for healthcare access. Together, we shall make the world a place where AIDS will no longer be a threat but a chapter in human history.
This was one session at JD School of Design that was impactful for educating the torchbearers of awareness and change. Through knowledge and empathy given to the next generation, we are building an informed, inclusive, and empowered future. Keep raising your voices, spread awareness, and stand together in this fight against HIV/AIDS.
