Bike rally in Chennai to spread AIDS awareness

CHENNAI - A bike rally was organized on the eve of ‘World AIDS Day’ to spread awareness about the deadly disease here today.

The Indian Community Welfare Organisations (ICWO) and Rotary Club conducted a bike rally ‘Ride for Rights’ to focus on the HIV infection, which kills millions every year all over the world.

People affected with the virus joined hands with volunteers and rode Enfield bikes carrying messages to underscore the commitment for eradicating the virus.

“On ‘World AIDS Day’, we are organizing this rally, emphasising to protect the rights of people living with HIV across the country, and also giving equal importance to HIV-TB co-infection which is major challenge at present for people who are vulnerable to HIV,” said A. J. Hariharan, the Indian Community Welfare Organisations (ICWO) president.

Members took a pledge to stop the spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and care for affected persons without discriminating against them.

The bike rally traversed through 22 areas in Chennai with an aim to reach one million people in the city.

“We are crossing 20 different areas in Chennai including from Anna Nagar via Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Purasaiwalkam and other places. This is to reach common people that we are part of them and they are no different from them. By marking this day this becomes the safest place here and that is what we are looking at,” said Vinay Babu, a participant. By Jaikumar (ANI)