Although the HIV epidemic in India has shown a downward trend of 46.3% from 2010 to 2021, the efforts to alleviate the concomitant effects of the disease remain as relevant as ever. According to the report of the Government of India report 2021, 24 lakh People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) exist in the country. In such a situation dissemination of the right knowledge and addressing misinformation regarding HIV becomes among the core objectives of the government bodies and civil society organizations. “Even PLHIV for 20 years are found to be ill-informed about the transmission of the disease. Many of them are aware of the causes of HIV but are still confused about what does not cause it”, said Dr Alpana Raizada, director and professor of medicines and nodal officer, GTB Hospital New Delhi. “Prevalence of such misinformation is found at the household level of the victims of HIV and is the root cause of the discrimination faced by them”, she added.

On December 1st, the Gram Nirman team observed World AIDS Day by educating inhabitants of urban slums in Delhi through the medium of street theatre. The infotainment value of street theatre has the power of engaging the masses through entertainment while comprehensively delivering the key messages. In line with this year’s theme “Let the Communities Lead”, the intervention was a people-centric effort for HIV control, designed to inspire the affected and community members to join the nation’s fight against HIV/AIDS.

Street plays were organized in different locations within the intervention area, including Jhil Mil industrial zone, GTB Hospital premises, Mansarovar Park Slum, Shahdara Metro – Railway station, and Meet Nagar Railway crossing in East Delhi. In addition to street plays IEC materials including flyers and pamphlets were handed out to people with important information regarding the disease and guidelines for redressal.

Throughout the day, hundreds of people of different age groups stopped to keenly observe the performance. Many of the audience members proactively approached the coordinators to learn more about HIV and were received with due diligence.

Caritas India through its Gram Nirman program supports people living with HIV/AIDS in slum areas of the Northeast district of Delhi. It aims to reduce HIV/AIDS-related morbidity and mortality together with socio-economic rehabilitation of families living with HIV/AIDS. The program also carries out an awareness campaign to address the crisis of misinformation regarding HIV and equip vulnerable communities with the right knowledge to curb the transmission of the disease and tackle the discriminatory behaviour around it.

Caritas India with support from Caritas Australia is implementing the Gram Nirman program in 3 states namely Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi. The urban program component which is implemented in Delhi primarily focuses on rehabilitation of families living with HIV/AIDS in 18 new slums in the district of East Delhi. The intervention area falls on the eastern side of the river Yamuna and shares its border with Uttar Pradesh. The region is symptomatic of people’s struggle in the country. It is the most populous part of Delhi, and a larger malaise has been creeping into the region. The great deal of migration, particularly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to this part is gradually making the area overpopulated. The region is facing an acute space crunch due to unplanned migration. Many areas in east Delhi lack even basic needs and infrastructure.

Given the multiplicity of problems in the region, the Gram Nirman program also works towards promoting environmental stewardship, including proper garbage disposal, kitchen waste diversion, and curbing of open defecation, in addition to HIV and AIDS-related street performances. This is done to encourage overall healthy behaviour practices in the community.