Kissing AIDS Goodbye

by SABHYATA TIMSINA

FROM ISSUE # 168 (December 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
	REFER TO FRIEND		PRINT THIS ARTICLE

An awareness group on Facebook goes by the name, ' If this group reaches one million, I will run around the world for HIV/AIDS'.I can only imagine how many people scoffed at this guy for coming up with what seems an absurd way to seek attention. There is no knowing if the group will ever reach a million and the guy will set out on the run. But for me, it's the thought that counts and everything begins with a thought.  

Time has certainly shaken us up. People have taken what Mary Fisher urged of them, back in 1992, to heart: HIV/AIDS is no longer a whisper. But before we get to the day when we won't have to bring up the word at all, we must pass through a phase where everything and every corner of the world screams HIV/AIDS. And it's happening; the issue is out in the open, people are aware. Be it with a grin on his face, if you get a sixth grader started, he will tell you everything he knows about HIV/AIDS; cause, diagnoses, symptoms and cure all in one breath. He may not understand a word he says but with age and time, hopefully he will begin to think.  

The New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus started the Red Ribbon Project in 1991, with the intention of expressing compassion for people living with AIDS and their caregivers. Beginning late November, millions of people across the world, AIDS victims included, will have this ribbon pinned on themselves. But out of millions, only a fraction will look at the ribbon to give it a second thought. The purpose seems to have been lost. As individuals we often feel helpless, that there is nothing we can do on our own. Wearing the red ribbon at the least extends our support for the cause. Once again, it's about the thought.  

But thinking is useless if our musings crystallise into nothing. Rohit Timilsina is one individual who urges us to put our thoughts into action. On World AIDS day this year he will be making a most affectionate gesture towards those suffering the virus. Beginning 9 AM, Rohit aims to kiss over 106 people within a minute, from a random group of both HIV positive and negative people (with their consent of course). Rohit apparently holds the 2010 title for holding 21 tennis balls in his hands for the Guinness World Record and wants to beat more records. So why this?

"People usually earn titles for things that benefit them or otherwise benefit nothing, I decided if I was to be renowned why not for some kind of social purpose?" says Rohit. This mini-campaign is taking place in support of National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC). Says Krishna Kumar Rai, director of NCASC, "This sort of thing is the best way to stir awareness, it will show people not to discriminate HIV/AIDS victims and will help break down, to some extent, the stigma associated with the disease".

Rohit has done his bit to show that he cares, in his own individual way. There are currently 70, 000 victims in Nepal, some didn't know it was coming, some were aware but chose to ignore, but that is hardly the debate here. The real debate is: what do we do now? Its time to think again, but not thoughts of compassion and care, but about what to do next, as individuals.