HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR and may the new year bring all the positive energy in your lives. We spent the 31st Dec selling the positive calander in town and did get a positive response. We still need more people to buy the calander. Later we had to shift one of our members to a private nursing home which has a more congenial environment to positive people. The government Doctor started shirking from his duty once the status was known to him. This is the state of affairs even with doctors as we bid 2007 goodbye. But, there are also very supportive doctors as in this private nursing home. The member is recovering well. The same day the President of Shanker Foundation had to file an official compliant about a governement doctor from NBMC who wanted the patients to come to his clinic and refused his services at the government facility which is free. He also offered commission to one of the members if he brings patients to him. An official complaint has been lodged against the doctor. A strong way to bid 2007 goodbye. Lots of positive work is happening and as 2008 approaches we build on the experiences and struggles of the last year and strengthen our work further. We need you solidarity and support. Battles have been won but the war is not over as yet. HAPPY NEW YEAR

World AIDS DAY

We did manage to rustle up a World AIDS Day in Darjeeling on the 1st Dec at Hayden Hall. We had flex put up with the Take the Lead to Stop AIDS by Keeping the Promise in prominent places and also in Batasia with Hari DjNP+ President on it. We had a huge turnover and people had to stand in the Hall, we easily crossed 500 people and many Samaj leaders. 200 plus students so a very good mix and not to forget a bunch of Gay Pride folk in the crowd. It was a great day for me as we had none dignitaries on the dias and we started exactly on time at 10 am with a Sarva Dharma Prayer for the people who passed away with HIV/AIDS, people and families living with HIV and working with HIV and also for soceity to be able to accept positive people and families. The prayers were from Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Islam faiths. We had Major Malla Convenor, World AIDS Day Committee, welcoming everyone followed by Hari Chettri, President DjNP+ sharing and calling all to talk about HIV/AIDS and accept positive people. This is a great achievement as in the past WAD positive people had no space for expression on stage except to march in the rally. Dr. Sabina Rongong(Shanker Foundation and Friends) gave a technical input on HIV/AIDS and safe blood donation with an appeal to Samaj to organise blood donation camps year long. A panel discussion and question hour round with 3 government Doctors, Dr. Sabina, Dr. Bag(VCCTC) and CMOH was facilitated. Tashi(Shanker Foundation and Friends), a lawyer, presented on HIV/AIDS socio-legal perspectives. Mr. Sharma, Member Secretary Darjeeling AIDS Control Centre, Hari Chettri and Dinesh Daju, Convenor Darjeeling NGO Network released The 2008 Positive Calander and 3 documentaries. 4 documentaries were screened, one of them documenting the difficulty of accesing ART for the positive people from Darjeeling from NBMC. The calender is priced Rs. 75/- minimum in the Darjeeling Hills. The WAD ended with renewal call to Take the Lead by Mr. Sharma. The WAD will be followed by further screening of the movies and getting literature out to the Samajs. Thank you one and all who supported the effort of WAD. You have taken the lead.