Red Ribbon Clubs: HIV/AIDS

Intervention in College Youth

by
Dr A.K Gupta,
Addl. Project Director
Delhi State AIDS Control Society
 Why discuss HIV & AIDS?

 It is never possible to get the exact magnitude of the

AIDS problem.
 HIV/AIDS affects the most productive age group of
15-49 years.
 HIV infection can be prevented.
 Key challenges in prevention:
 HIV infection goes unnoticed for years.
 Primarily spreads through sexual contact -
 Discussion about sex is a taboo in many
societies
 Stigma and discrimination associated with
HIV/AIDS
 HIV/AIDS YOUTH SCENARIO
 Of over 1 billion youth (aged15-24)
worldwide are living with HIV.
 Everyday an estimated 6,000 youth
are infected with the virus.
 In India people in the age group 15-
29 years account for 31% of the AIDS
burden.
 ESTIMATES FOR HIV/AIDS IN
YOUTHS OF DELHI

 DELHI HAS 4.2 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE 15-29

YEARS
 ONLY 49% OF YOUTHS AWARE OF HIV/AIDS
 15% ARE EXPERIENCING PRE-MARITAL SEX WHICH
MAY BE UNPROTECTED (WITHOUT CONDOM)
 PREVELANCE OF HIV IN GENERAL POPULATION OF
DELHI- 0.25%
 ESTIMATES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT MAY BE
INFECTED WITH HIV: 10,500
 WHY YOUTH?

 Adolescence is more susceptible to sexual curiosity and behavior

which makes this stage more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS

 Limited access to correct information and lack of appropriate life

skills
 Formal Education Institute are generally silent on psycho-social
aspects of physical growth and sexuality leading to mystification and
secrecy around sex

 The epidemic among the youth remains largely invisible, both to

themselves and to society as a whole

 The youth are economically dependent and socially inexperienced

and generally have less access to health care than adults

 Youth are the potential change agents who can protect themselves
from the lurking of AIDS as well as be ambassadors in the fight
against HIV & AIDS in particular
 What is Red Ribbon?

Red Ribbon is the global symbol created in1991

in New York.
It stands for Solidarity with people living with
HIV and AIDS & aimed at uniting the people in
the common fight against the disease.
Red like Love -as a symbol of passion and
tolerance for those
affected
Red like blood- representing pain caused by
death of people by AIDS
Red as sign of warning- not to ignore one of the
biggest problems of
 Goal of Red Ribbon Clubs

To reduce the occurrence of new

sexually transmitted infections
(incidence), particularly HIV, among
youth
 Objectives of Red Ribbon Clubs
Primary Objective:
 To prepare youth as peer educators/agents of
change both among youth as well as society at
large by developing their skills on leadership,
advocacy, communication and team building
Secondary objectives:
 To increase awareness among youth on sexual
reproductive health and HIV/AIDS
 To impart skills among youth on self-protection,
negotiation, and effective group interaction
 Additional Objectives:
 To encourage blood donations
 To serve as forums for medical students to
participate in the fight against HIV/AIDS
 Red Ribbon Club Activities
Red Ribbon Clubs are about celebrating life with
responsibility, they are platforms for you to have fun
whilst developing the knowledge and skills to make
healthy choices, and help others do so as well.
 Cultural Activity (drama, role-play, dance, talent show,
competitions etc)
 Quiz
 Field trips
 Blood donation camps and creation of a Donor database
 Newsletters
 Guest Lecturers
 Question Box
 Screening visual spots on HIV and AIDS
Red Ribbon Clubs as a space
for
 To educate them with correct, concise and
adequate information on STI/HIV/AIDS.
 To sensitize them about the need for care
and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
 To create counseling and supportive
channels in each institution and help solve
problems relating to sex, sexuality,
STI/HIV/AIDS.
(A fallout of the Program is that students gain
organizational and networking skills which will be a
great strength in any career they choose to pursue)
 Achievements of Delhi State AIDS
Control Society in Establishing RRCs
2008-09

 10 Red Ribbon Clubs established in 10 Colleges

in Delhi University
 3 RRCs constituted at IIT, Delhi
 10 RRCs Under Process at Jamia Milia Islamia
University
 02 RRCs Under Process at Jamia Hamdard
University
 04 RRCs Under Process at J.N.University
 01 RRC Under Process at Netaji Subhash
Institute of Technology
 Achievements of Delhi State AIDS
Control Society in HIV/AIDS
Intervention in Youth Population
 The existing Integrated HIV Counseling & Testing centre,
World University Health (WUS) Centre, Delhi University
being upgraded to Provide “ Youth Friendly Health
Services” (YFHS) from 2009.
 30 Medical Officers under WUS, Delhi University Trained
on YFHS & Sexually Transmitted Infection’s Management.
 50 Peer Educators trained in 10 colleges in Delhi
University North Campus through an NGO ‘SPACE’
 DSACS appreciates the keen interest taken by Prof S.K.
Vij, Dean Student Welfare and Prof Deepak Paintal,
Vice Chancellor, Delhi University for HIV/AIDS
Intervention programme in colleges under DU.
 Interested in Blood Donation Camp?
& or Establishing Red Ribbon Club in
Your College in Delhi ?
 Contact Office of Delhi State AIDS Control
Society, Dr Ambedkar Hospital Complex,
Sector VI, Rohini at 27055650, 27055717
 Contact Persons: Mr. Mateen Khan, Joint
Director IEC & Consultant Voluntary Blood
Donation(PH: 9718513010) & Mr. Abhishek
Kumar, Consultant Youth Affairs (PH:
9718513008)
 Financial assistance: Rs. 9000/college for
establishing one RRC & Rs. 5000 per voluntary
Donation Camp with minimum 75 blood units
collection.