December 1 is observed as World AIDS Day every year. Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society and www.teachaids.org have taken the help of actors Anushka Shetty, Shruti Haasan, Suriya and Siddharth, whose voices and caricatures have been used for the Teach AIDS website to create awareness about AIDS. This website features educational material, which will be made available to school children and the people of Tamil Nadu.
On December 1, the public can get a sneak peek into the website, which can be later accessed by migrants, mobile clinics, self-help groups and children from rural areas as well.
Anushka Shetty says, “To lower infection rates, we should have a mass education system where 60-year-olds and two-year-olds can learn together. The TeachAIDS animations are extremely effective in educating people of all ages about HIV, as they are both entertaining and accessible. They are a perfect balance of science and entertainment.”
Siddharth, who is a firm supporter of the initiative, says, “Through the TeachAIDS animations, I am endorsing curiosity — one of my favourite virtues. You have to ask questions, you have to ask them again and again until you know what you’re asking for and you get your answers.”
