Thursday, May 28, 2009

Vedanta’s drive against AIDS

The Statesman, May 28, 2009
Statesman News Service

BHAWANIPATNA, 27 MAY: Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh observed an HIV/AIDS Awareness Week from 19 May to 26 May, 2009.

During the week, the company organised mass awareness program on this killer disease through street-plays and folk dance.

The drive was organised in collaboration with Orissa State AIDS Control Society. Under the program, 20853 people from villages near Vedanta Alumina Refinery were sensitised on different issues related to HIV/AIDS.

Welcoming the initiative, Dr Mukesh Kumar, chief operating officer of Vedanta Aluminium Lanjigarh said: “Lanjigarh has huge number of floating population, who are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. The awareness initiative is our initiative to prevent the disease in Lanjigarh”.

He further informed that more villages will be included in similar awareness building program, that will cover not only HIV/AIDS but also other diseases like malaria.

Vedanta Aluminium Limited has started Integrated Counseling and Training Center at Lanjigarh in Collaboration with Orissa State AIDS Control Society. This centre is the first voluntary counseling and testing centre in Lanjigarh. The centre provides counseling and testing facilities for HIV/AIDS to the community members, migrant workers and truck driver, said a release issued by the company here.

No comments: