Workshop,cricket tourney to mark Children’s Day

On November 14,a programme will be held by the Muktaa HIV helpline on children and HIV. K C Bhushan of the Muktaa — a voluntary initiative from Maitri,a civil service action group based here — said that Sindhutai Sapkal,who runs organistions like Sanmati Bal Niketan,Abhiman Bal Bhavan and others along with Dr R R Gangakhedkar,senior research scientist at the National AIDS Research Institute (NARI),will be present at the function which will focus on the theme,an HIV-free childhood. Bhushan said that more than their helpline has received more than 50,000 calls till now.

Condom cricket — a tournament aimed at educating and raising awareness about HIV — has been organised by Deep Griha’s Integrated service for HIV/AIDS (DISHA) under the Wake Up Pune ‘Take 10 campaign.’

Twenty teams from Tadiwala Road and Ramtekdi area will participate in the tournament. The batting team takes the side of protecting the human body while the fielding team takes the side of HIV and related illnesses. The batsman tries to protect the body (wickets) by using a condom (bat) to ward off HIV (ball).