As part of the Northeast Multi-Media Campaign, Music for Life, an HIV awareness drive began in Assam.
The campaign through western rock music and indie pop music organized by Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS), began with the first zonal-level competition that was held at District Library Auditorium in Jorhat last.
The first zonal-level competition saw the participation of seven music bands from upper Assam districts like Sivasagar, Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
Psybarite, a rock band from Sivasagar won the competition with a prize money of Rs 25,000.
The first runner-up trophy was awarded to Nebula from Dibrugarh with a prize money of Rs 15,000 and the second runner-up was Infinite who won a prize money of Rs 10,000.
The other participating bands were Mobieous Trip, Chung Bros, East Lane and Phiringoti.
All the participating bands were awarded with mementos and certificates.
The awards were given by superintendent of police (SP) Jorhat Mridul Dutta and assistant commissioner, Jorhat, Rajib Gogoi.
While awarding the winners, SP Jorhat, Mridul Das exhorted the participants to carry forward the message of HIV awareness amongst their friends and peers for generating wider HIV awareness amongst the youth.
SDO (Sadar) Bipul Chandra Das inaugurated the event and said such types of awareness drives on HIV menace is the need of the hour especially amongst the today’s youth.
As part of the Northeast Multi-Media Campaign, ASACS is organizing the campaign in four zones across Assam: Jorhat (Upper Assam Zone) on November 20, Silchar (Barak Valley Zone) on November 23, 2019, Kokrajhar (Lower Assam Zone) on November 26, 2019 and Guwahati (Central Assam Zone) in December 2, 2019.
The state level competition will be held at Shradhanjali Kanon December 8.
It may be mentioned that all state control societies of the Northeast are organizing the Multi Media campaign and the final regional event will be held at Imphal, Manipur on December 18.
The Multi-Media Campaign in the Northeast aims to capitalize on the popularity of locally popular entertainment channels among youth like music and sports.
The objectives of Multi Media Campaign in North East are enhance risk perception and promote safe behavior.
It also aims to address issues around stigma and discrimination for people infected and affected with HIV and AIDS.
Another aim is to motivate different population groups to seek services Integrated Counseling & Testing Centres (ICTC) Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Care & Support services.
It also highlights the importance of blood safety and increase awareness on the availability of Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART).
