In Brief

State AIDS control project to map CSWsThe state government's newest AIDS control programme, AVERT, will map commercial sex workers CSWs...

State AIDS control project to map CSWs

The state government8217;s newest AIDS control programme, AVERT, will map commercial sex workers CSWs state-wide to arrive at a baseline before taking steps to control the spread of the disease. The project, which will use the 41.5 million recently given by the World Bank and USAID, will be implemented in the city through the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society MDACS and in the state via the Maharashtra State Aids Control Society MSACS, both state-government agencies. In fact, mapping of high-risk zones for CSWs in the state has already begun in Mumbai, Thane, Sangli and Kolhapur.

Dr Alka Gogate, project director, MDACS, points out that the incidence of AIDS varies throughout the country. Neither is healthcare infrastructure equally advanced in various states. 8220;That is why the societies were formed and asked to source funds on their own.

AVERT will target high-risk behavioural groups with the help of NGOs. It will organise awareness camps, strengthenhealthcare infrastructure, coordinate with blood banks to promote safety and train healthcare professionals.

Film guild teams up with AMTPP

The Film Producers8217; Guild of India which walked out of the Film Makers8217; Combine FMC has now joined hands with the Association of Motion Picture amp; TV Programme Producers AMTPP to reactivate the defunct All India Film Producers8217; Council. At the joint meeting of the Guild and the AMTPP held on October 3, it was decided that both the associations would work in tandem. It was also decided to severe connections with the FMC which has many inactive and non-functional producers. The meeting was attended by Pahlaj Nihalani, president of the AMTPP, Surinder Kapoor, president of the Guild, J Om Prakash, Yash Chopra, Yash Johar, Amit Khanna, A G Nadiadwala, Bappi Sonie, Ramesh Taurani, Ratan Jain, Vikas Mohan, Kiran Shantaram, Supran Sen and Anil Nagrath.

The last to walk out on the FMC was the AMTPP in 1995 when hundreds of active producers quit the Indian MotionPicture Producers8217; Association IMPPA.

While considering the Guild8217;s resignation, the FMC requested the Guild to reconsider its decision and to forget any differences of opinion in the past, while assuring them that Guild members would not be disrespected, said K D Shorey, the newly elected president of the IMPPA.

Story continues below this ad

But Surinder Kapoor ruled out any possibility of reconsideration as the decision, which was taken at the general body meeting, was unanimous and could not be reversed.

Mental health camp at Chembur

A mental health camp is being held at Sevadaan, Chembur from 9 am to 12 pm till October 10. Organised by KEM Hospital, a team of psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric social workers will treat patients with decreased sleep or appetite, lethargy, fatigue, body aches, headaches, amnesia, giddiness, depression, restlessness, anxiety, and palpitations for free. Children will be treated as well.

Lectures on depression, schizophrenia and scholastic backwardness, slide shows, aposter exhibition and a street play are also being organised.

Handicrafts exhibition

Dastakar, an non governmental organisation working with women has organised an exhibition of patchwork and bandhani lehengas, blouses, dupattas, sarees, leather chappals, pottery, serving dishes and glasses at the Bombay store at Fountain till October 10. All these items have made by women from Ranthambore.

8212; Newsline reports