RAWALPINDI, Nov 29: To mark the World Aids Day, a non-governmental orgnisation Life Line organised a “creative expression activity” in collaboration with the National College of Arts (NCA) here on Friday.

The basic aim of this creative activity was to highlight the importance of awareness in protecting future generations from this deadly disease.

More than 30 NCA students participated in painting and graffiti activity under the supervision of three senior fine arts teachers.

A large number of NCA students attended the event and appreciated the participants for their tremendous contribution to an important social cause. Participants highlighted the messages to create awareness about Aids among the people.

Some of the key messages were: “Do not lead your children astray”, “Awareness can protect future generations from HIV/Aids” and in Pakistan more than 100 children are molested each month.”

The students were quite excited about the whole activity and were busy in carrying out the artistic activity on a huge banner to highlight the importance of World Aids Day.

The students used spray paints, water paints and color markers to paint or draw graffiti of their own choice as they tried to highlight issues pertaining to the World Aids Day.

While speaking on the occasion, Omer Aftab of Hayat, a project of the NGO said that it was important that youth shall be given the right to information from the right quarters.

“Absence of proper guidance or information can lead the youth astray and expose them to exploitation and ill-informed decision-making, so the parents and teachers must impart knowledge to young mind regarding HIV/Aids in the light of Islam and Sunnah”, he said.

“It is also important to note that Aids is not a contagious disease, and that social alienation of a person who has contracted the virus is counter-productive and irresponsible,” he said.

Dr Nadim Omer Tarar, Principal of NCA, appreciated the efforts of Hayat Campaign and said, “We fully support and endorse this cause, as it aims at safeguarding our coming generation from exploitation and helps to guide them in right direction.”

Hira Ali, a young volunteer was of the opinion that awareness about basic health issues is right of youth.

“I feel that it is the right time for parents and teachers to educate children about problems of growing age and diseases like HIV/Aids without feeling any hesitation or shyness,” she said. "If parents won't, who else will talk to us about these very sensitive issues?” she said.

It is pertinent to recall here that ‘Hayat– Bakhabar Aaj, Roshan Kal’, is an awareness and advocacy campaign on life skills based education. ‘Hayat’ is endorsed by supreme religious scholars of all major sects and its campaign covers nine districts across Pakistan.

The campaign targets the youth between 10 to 18 years of age, their parents and teachers (jointly called caretakers), policy makers, opinion leaders and media.