Healthcare has transformed immensely over the years, with cures coming up for diseases that were considered incurable in the past. However, regardless of the many developments in healthcare, some conditions are still stigmatized and sidelined even in this day and age. One of them is HIV AIDS.
As per statistics released in 2017, 0.2% of the Indian population is affected by the virus, translating to roughly 2.1 million people. However, despite the widespread nature of the virus, society still has a hard time accepting it, making it difficult for the affected to get the necessary support and treatment.
Regardless of the stigma, some individuals have been making incredible efforts to alleviate the issue. Here are a few people who have become the beacon of hope for those suffering from HIV/AIDS:
Mansi Lakshmi (Aarju Foundation)
Sex workers working in red-light districts of India are some people most susceptible to the virus. Recognising that, Mansi Lakshmi has been a source of strength to all such individuals, especially during the excruciatingly hard times during the pandemic. Taking it upon herself to support the largely shunned community of sex workers, her campaign has raised almost Rs. 17 Lakhs for the cause.
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi (Kineer Services Pvt. Ltd.)
Much like the sex workers, the transgender community in India is also largely shunned, and Laxmi Narayan Tripathi has become an incredible source of support for them. With the pandemic affecting the source of income of transgender people, Tripathi has been working tirelessly to raise awareness regarding HIV/AIDS while supporting her community with essential grocery kits.
HIV is a condition that affects children as well, and Girish Kulkarni has been a ray of hope for such children in India. Motivated by his own experiences as witnessed in the red-light districts of India, Kulkarni has not only been supporting children to recover from the disease but has also been instrumental in rescuing hundreds of women and children out of the flesh trade.
With the stigma around HIV, it is not a surprise that many parents abandon their HIV children. Mangaltai comes as a saviour for these abandoned and orphaned children, giving them shelter in her home, Palawi. Caring for more than 120 children, Mangaltai has also raised awareness on the virus and motivated others to support the cause, having raised about Rs. 1.7 CR for her campaign.
At Donatekart, we’re constantly striving to curate the most relevant and engaging content just for you. If you loved reading this, then 5 sportspersons who used crowdfunding will grab your attention too.
You can support more such causes here.
