SHILLONG: The Grand Finale of the stand alone event of Red Ribbon Super Star Campaign – Meghalaya Icon III will be held on January 31 at Laban Sports Club Ground.
The sole aim of this event is to create awareness on HIV and AIDS. The event also aims at motivating talented youth to not only showcase their skills but to also enhance, increase and share the understanding towards the subject. The winner of Meghalaya Icon III will be the Brand Ambassador and Spokesperson of all HIV and AIDS awareness activities of Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS) for a period of 1 year or till the next icon is crowned.
The Multimedia Campaign is a special package, specific to only the 8 northeastern states of India, which is supported by National Aids Control Organization (NACO).
Under this campaign, the State AIDS Control Societies aims to address the issues of HIV & AIDS through local entertainment avenues like sports, local festivals and music to target the youth.
After the crowning, the Meghalaya Icon as in the past years will be the brand ambassador for MACS participating and travelling with MACS in its awareness campaigns. This so called branding is an innovative and useful tool/medium for information and communication.
As the rules of the competition has clearly made it mandatory for all participants to visits ICTCs and for the finalist to visit the Art Centre and DIC (run by MSNP+), this will go a long way in promoting behavior and attitudinal change towards HIV and AIDS and in particular, towards people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIVs). The participants to these will be telecasted and hence the people of the state will not only get a detailed insight into the centers but will also sensitize them towards the lives and the plight of PLHIVs.
The competition will have two parts – music and knowledge of HIV & AIDS. The campaign this year will have 3 districts level events – Garo Hills, Tura (Janaury 24), Jaintia Hills, Jowai (January 27) and Khasi Hills, Shillong (January 30). The even t will also be open to solo singers and folk troupes of the state.