huge amount of interest
both here in the national press, in the healthcare profession, and
in India too. Our priority is to get it shown on Asian TV channels
and into local video shops, grocery stores, and all relevant outlets
so as many south Asian families can watch it in their homes as possible.
On a more personal vocational level, I have a dream to go to India
for a year or two. I’d like to hire a big minibus and tour
the country with a roadshow, showing the film and also taking celebrities
on board to spread the message round India’s villages.
India needs to get rid of prejudice before it can get a strategy
in place. It also needs to work much more in partnership with other
countries.
Even though India has been given funding now from UNAIDS and Bill
Gates, there isn’t anything in place at grass roots support
level to make sure that the money gets spent properly. I’m
not HIV positive myself, but I know many workers in India who are.
The prejudice at their level is horrible. HIV infected workers are
treated by medical staff and other workers equally with total disrespect.
There’s also an appalling arrogance associated with being
rich in Indian society and the whole concept of compassion and humanity
needs to be reviewed.
After breaking the taboo around Aids, then must come education and
capacity building. I’ve asked Oxfam to see if they’ll
back me. Now all I need is Bianca Jagger on my side!”
Copies of Ek Pal can be obtained from the Birmingham Health
Promotion Unit. Tel 0121 446 1088. Ek Pal is available in Bengali,
Hindi and English versions.
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