Rethink. Rebuild. Rise: How Shri Venkateshwara University is Leading the Charge on World AIDS Day 2025

Our Call to Action for World AIDS Day 2025: End AIDS by 2030

World AIDS Day 2025 was a pivotal moment for global action, rallying behind the urgent call to Rethink. Rebuild. Rise. in the face of the ongoing epidemic. This December 1st, Shri Venkateshwara University (SVU) and the VIMS Community Medicine Department mobilized their students and top medical professionals to transform awareness into action, focusing on community-led education and the final push to eradicate AIDS by 2030.

The Day of Action: From Seminar Hall to Street Corner

The university’s observance of World AIDS Day 2025 was marked by a series of high-impact events designed to reach both the academic community and the public.

• The Experts’ Seminar: The day was inaugurated by Pro-Chancellor Dr. Rajeev Tyagi, VC Dr. KK Dave, and Dean Dr. Sanjeev Bhatt. The chief guest was Dr. Balmiki Prasad, former Director, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India. He, along with other senior doctors and scientists, elaborated on the symptoms, spread, prevention, and available treatments for AIDS.
• The Street Play Revolution: Over two dozen MBBS, nursing, and paramedical students took the powerful message of HIV prevention out of the classroom and onto the streets. Through an engaging and entertaining street play, they educated the public about AIDS prevention and broke down the societal taboos associated with the disease.
• A National Commitment: Demonstrating their dedication to driving policy change, the students and organizers also presented a memorandum to the Honorable President of India, underscoring the urgent need for continued national focus on the AIDS response. This powerful act highlights the university’s commitment to the “Rise” part of the global theme, advocating for inclusive policies and sustained collaboration.

Key Takeaways from the Experts: The 2030 Goal

The event focused not just on commemorating the day, but on reaffirming the goal of eradicating AIDS completely by 2030. Speakers delivered some crucial messages:

Speaker	Core Message
Dr. Sudhir Giri (Founder President, Venkateshwara Group)	“AIDS is not only life-threatening but a societal taboo. The Venkateshwara Group will run AIDS awareness programs in collaboration with the government and voluntary organizations for its complete eradication. We have been successful in controlling AIDS with the support of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).”
Dr. Balmiki Prasad (Former Director, MOHFW, GOI)	“Because of no effective treatment and a lack of preventive vaccine, AIDS causes lakhs of deaths every year. Let’s all contribute to eradicating AIDS completely by 2030.”
Pro-Chancellor Dr. Rajeev Tyagi	“Medical, paramedical and nursing professionals have a major role in the prevention and treatment of AIDS.”

The message is clear: the fight against AIDS requires sustained political leadership and a human-rights-centered approach to eliminate stigma and ensure service accessibility.

Your Role in Ending AIDS: How to Join the Movement

The efforts of Shri Venkateshwara University and its passionate students on World AIDS Day 2025 prove that progress is possible when communities and professionals unite.

We can all contribute to the Rethink. Rebuild. Rise. movement by focusing on the following actions:

1. Know Your Status: People should get themselves tested regularly for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
2. Educate and Empathize: Challenge the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS, remembering that it is a societal taboo we must overcome.
3. Support Organizations: Volunteer or donate to local and national organizations (like those supported by the Venkateshwara Group) that provide prevention and treatment services.

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