Indore, Dec 1: Undeterred by increase in AIDS cases across the state, both government and non-governmental organizations are leaving no stone unturned to create an awareness among people regarding prevention from AIDS. Even these organizations are taking recourse to the novel ways to draw the attention of people towards the enormity of this dreaded diseases and adopting preventive measures to curb it.

Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association, a state-level health and development non-governmental organization, subscribing to the theme of this year's World AIDS Day, which goes like `take leadership, prevent AIDS and fulfill commitment' on Saturday made elephant as a symbol of its awareness campaign.

The Association on Saturday took out a `sandesh yatra' putting an elephant in the lead and organized street plays in various parts of the city in an attempt to convey message to the people about AIDS and its consequences. While kicking off its `AIDS sandesh yatra' at Musakheri chowraha of the city, the Association's executive president, Mukesh Kumar Singh said the very objective of organizing the World AIDS Day is to put a curb on this fast increasing HIV virus by 2015 and reduce the number of AIDS patients in the country.

He said the awareness campaign is also aimed at bridge the differences in the society with AIDS patients and convey people about prevention from HIV and AIDS patients. The function was inaugurated by Dr Mahesh Patni, joint director, Health Services, Indore division, Notable among those who were present on the occasion included international skating player, Parul Jaiswal, Dr Sudhir Mahashabde of the MPVHA.

From Mushakheri `sadesh yatra' reached Khajrana square where a street play was enacted in the presence of local corporator. From Khajrana, the AIDS `sandesh yatra' went to Dewas Naka, Shivaji Nagar, Chandan Nagar and other localities of the city where apart from street plays, AIDS awareness promotional pamphlets were distributed among the people. The BIG 92.7 FM, a prominent radio FM channel of the city also played an active role in the AIDS awareness campaign of the M P Voluntary Health Association.

Earlier, in the morning, a marathon race was flagged off by Indore divisional commissioner, B P Singh from St. Paul School. The race which was attended by hundreds of school students, intellectuals and officials of the city, passed through Shivaji statue and reached M Y hospital. Notable among those who were present at the concluding ceremony of the race included MGM College dean, Dr M K Saraswat, district chief medical and health officer, Dr Sharad Pandit, the incharge of anti retroviral centre, M Y hospital, Dr V P Pande and superintendent of M Y Hospital, Dr Kulkarni.

Another AIDS awareness rally was taken by the students of Devi Ahilya university along with the members of Pushpkunj non-governmental organization from Bhanwarkuwan to Gandhi statue at Regal square.