Tibetans living in New York City came together on March 20 to raise fund for the CHOICE – HIV/AIDS Initiative which undertakes HIV/AIDS awareness program and provides care and support to the Tibetan people living with HIV/AIDS (TPLHA).
Spearheaded by Tsering Choden, a Program Coordinator at New York City Epidemiology Scholars, the fund raising event attracted host of Tibetan professionals, artists and activists, who contributed their time, energy, and money in making the event a “great success.”
Dr. Tenzin Namdul, the Executive Director of CHOICE, spoke on the growing urgency of HIV infection in Tibetan community and how it is like a “ticking bomb” in Tibetan health care scenario. According to Dr. Namdul, HIV/AIDS cases have tripled in Tibetan society in last three years and he warned that “if we do not implement any strategic program now, we can easily lose our grip in combating this alarming spread of HIV.”
Dr. Kunchok Dorjee, who has done great deal of work on hepatitis B and tuberculosis, spoke candidly about its cause and the mode of prevention. Over the past decade, hepatitis B has also been a cause of concern for Tibetan health care think-tank due to its high incidence rate in Tibetan community.
The event also saw the intriguing calligraphy art based on theme of “HIV/AIDS in Tibetan community” by Lobsang Chophel. All the exhibited paintings were put on auction for the benefit of HIV/AIDS patients.
CHOICE awareness and fund raising program in North America was first organized in Boston last year in August by Tibetan Association of Boston, led by Tenzin Nyesang and her family. Tenzin Nyesang, who is currently working with Massachusetts department of public health is a strong supporter HIV/AIDS direct action campaign and had done a behavioral survey among exiled-Tibetans in India in 2008.
Dr. Namdul thanked New York based Tibetan Volunteers for Animals, Phayul.com, Ex-Herbert Association, and all other individuals who came together in “making a difference”. CHOICE is looking for partners in organizing similar events in North America in order to empower the Tibetan people. His Holiness the Dalai Lama had said, “AIDS can become a peril to our society if we do not take preventative measures from now.”
Please contact us at chocehivaids@gmail.com if you are interested in collaborating with CHOICE in conducting an educational program and fund raiser about HIV/AIDS.
