Tamilnadu is planning a series of campaigns among the college and school going students to create awareness on AIDS and other STDs. According to official sources, the Tamilnadu AIDS Control Society has engaged Loyola College, Chennai as the nodal agency to create awareness on the epidemic among the college students, and Loyola is organizing a two-day conference on AIDS and STDs, starting on 15th September, next week.

During the conference, likely to be attended by 5000 students from different colleges in the state, the first Red Ribbon Club (a college club to create awareness on AIDS among the fellow college students) will be inaugurated by Thalaivi Sundaram, Health Minister, Government of Tamilnadu. Within a few months, similar Red Ribbon Clubs would take off in all the colleges in the state.

Sources said reports of AIDS cases among students are on the rise, and the awareness programmes would focus to keep moral values high and desist youths from engaging in pre-marital sex. "The idea is to make behavioral changes among the students and keep up our values and tradition. This is not a campaign advocating students to use condoms and encourage them indulge in safe sex" said Fr.Joseph Xavier, Principal, Loyola College.

Meanwhile, TANSACS is planning an advocacy education on AIDS and HIV to over 11 lakh children in about 9000 schools in the state. The Rs.2.5 crore project, beginning from December, will be to educate the students of IX and XI standard on HIV, AIDS and life skill training, with stress on 'abstinence and fidelity' as the key areas influencing the mindsets of the growing generation. UNICEF, USAID and Government of India are funding the project.

According to K.Deenabandhu, Project Director, TANSACS, UNICEF has identified five organizations in the state to campaign for the project in the schools. The programme, starting since next month, would also stress on removing the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS in the society. Two teachers and students from each school would be chosen for training, and they would campaign among the students. Officials from the Directorate of Teacher Education Research and Training and District Institutes for Education and Training would act as the core resource persons.