Project Name : Arise, Awake, Empower: Combat HIV/AIDS
Project Theme: Community Health & Environment
Aim: Since there is no cure of HIV/AIDS, education and awareness building are the only ways in which we can halt the spread of the virus in the community. The aim of the exhibit therefore is to demonstrate how the causative agent of AIDS i.e. HIV enters the body, replicates inside, affects it, spreads from infected to healthy person through working models.
Scientific Principle Involved: Structure of HIV, Role of Reverse Transcriptase in multiplication of HIV in the host cell, Destruction of the Immune System, Treatment of HIV using Anti Retroviral Therapy for prevention of AIDS and its spread in the community.
Material used: Mount boards, Thermocol sheets ,LED Bulbs, robots, cards , snakes and ladder etc
Working:
Studying the root cause of AIDS
Survey – ( Questionnaire given to approximately 150 persons to know the awareness level)
Analyzing the result of the survey and graphical representation
Visit to specialist Dr.Milind Bhrushundit to get more details about HIV patients and treatment
Preparing an exhibit to explain the concept and to create awareness Description of the Exhibit: In order to demonstrate the root cause of AIDS, the exhibit includes the following.
A model showing the structure of HIV
A model showing how the HIV multiplies inside the living cells
A model to explain how the virus destroys the immune system in the body.
The exhibit also displays tools for creating awareness in the form of two games. The Snakes and ladder game will address the target groups on one- one basis while the Card game can target the community in general. The games will enlighten the target groups on causes of HIV/AIDS and also on what does not cause the disease. Through the games they will know about the systems, how to practice safe sex and what constitutes the risky behavior.
Our exhibit thus, is a small attempt to bring awareness among the youth about the pandemic AIDS, to explore the biomedical interventions in prevention and cure, to analyse the role of self in educating the masses and contribute towards a healthy society.
Utility and Further scope: The exhibit may be further improvised to sensitise people from different levels of the community. Given the fact that truck drivers, male migrant workers, sex workers comprise the social background of the PLHIV in India. Moreover, with increasing incidences of teenage sex becoming prevalent in urban and rural India, imparting knowledge about AIDS, its occurrence and prevention has become extremely relevant even amongst students and teenagers. Adolescents must learn the facts before they become sexually active. So this exhibit can prove to be an important aid/ tool for reinforcement of the information in schools and community and also for Adolescent Education Programme.
Name of the School: Centre Point School Nagpur, Maharastra.
