HIV/AIDS Education Intervention Activities by CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative
July 4 to 10, 2009 Ladakh CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative successfully concluded workshops on HIV/AIDS and STI at twelve Tibetan refugee settlements at Ladakh, Leh Tibetan Refugee Market and S.F.F. 1 Vikas at Ladakh from July 4 to 10, 2009. The workshop was made possible with the support Department of Health, CTA Dharamshala and in collaboration with the Tibetan Primary Health Care Centre, Choglamsar Ladakh and also many other individuals.
CHOICE conducted seven different workshops during the tour. The topics discussed and deliberated upon throughout the workshops were: a) Basics of HIV/AIDS, b) Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI/STD) and Testimony of HIV positive. The power-point presentations during the workshops were very well received by the participants.
A 9 minutes video presentation by CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative featuring His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's message on HIV/AIDS and interviews with Kolon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Honourable Health Minister Mr. Chope Paljor Tsering and an HIV positive Tibetan youth was also screened at every workshops.
For the first time in our workshops, CHOICE was able to include a special resource person Mr. Norbu Damdul, an HIV positive patient. CHOICE highly appreciates Mr. Damdul's courage in deciding to interact with different audiences and share his HIV positive status, experiences and challenges. The entire CHOICE'S team respects Mr. Damdul ‘choice’ of disclosing his HIV status and giving workshops on HIV/AIDS. During his deliberations, he honestly shared how his life changed a few years ago when he and his wife both tested HIV positive. Mr. Damdul pleaded with the participants to take utmost precautions in their daily lives and the importance of being faithful to your partner. Many of the participants individually thanked him with a different gesture of providing monetary help for his medication, food and nutrition and with notes of appreciation and encouragement.
Following CHOICE’s workshop, with the initiative of Mr. Sonam Gyatso, (President, Tibetan Refugee Market, Leh), the members of the Tibetan Refugee Market of Leh Ladhak promised to contribute monthly a sum of Rs. 50 towards the Tibetan people living with HIV/AIDS under Care and Support program of CHOICE.
On Wednesday, July 8, 2009, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Ladakh arranged a half an hour radio show for CHOICE to speak at the weekly Tibetan language section in All India Radio, Ladakh station which is broadcast all over Ladakh and the adjoining regions of western Tibet. Ms. Tsering Paldon and Mr. Phuntsok Chomphel representing CHOICE were interviewed by Mr. Karma Gendun (Executive Secretary, Tibetan Primary Health Centre, Choglamsar, Ladakh) on CHOICE and its works. We later received positive feedbacks from the active listeners to the program.
With the consent of Lt. Colonel Suresh Kumar CHOICE was able to conduct a separate workshop for Tibetan army personals of the 1 Vikas of Unit 22 currently stationed at Ladakh.
For us at CHOICE, the tour was a huge success as we were able to penetrate our community at the grass-root level in the five most populous Tibetan settlements in exile. We have been further encouraged by the positive feedbacks from the participants and look forward to bringing awareness on HIV AIDS to all the pockets of Tibetan settlement.
Acknowledgements: CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative is immensely grateful to Dept. of Health, Dept. of Home CTA Dharamshala, and their full support. CHOICE also wishes to extend sincere gratitude to Mr. Karma Gendun (Executive Secretary, Tibetan Primary Health Care Centre, Choglamsar Ladakh) and all the community health workers (Ms. Tsedon, Ms. Tsomo, Ms. Chonzom, Ms. Tashi Tsomo, Ms. Tsering Palmo, Ms. Kalsang Yangdon and Ms. Kalsang Yangdon). We also acknowledge the support of Lt. Colonel Mr. Suresh Kumar & Political Leader Mr. Tsewang of 1 Vikas, Unit 22, Mr. Sonam Gyatso (President, Tibetan Refugee Market Association, Leh Ladakh) and all the camp leader of Tibetan refugee settlements of Ladakh.
In our endeavor, we will always remain indebted to the encouragement and advice of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, who believes that we as Tibetans must be open and receptive to the HIV/AIDS crisis.
