Mukkti Foundation, a non-profit foundation, spearheaded by Smita Thackeray has always been in the forefront when it comes to HIV awareness. The organization has relentlessly worked over the last two decades achieving global recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO) for their work in the field of HIV-AIDS and bringing about a change in the society. The ‘Freedom Parade’ was held where Smita Thackeray, Sunny Leone and Nisha Haraale got together for the straight and the LGBTQ+ communities to put a fun spin on spreading awareness for the fight against HIV.
“It is time we thought of spreading AIDS awareness by positively joining hands with all the communities. Enjoy your life with small precautions because you have only one life. Come join me and my team of Mukkti Foundation at the Freedom Parade and spread the message to spread the word and not the disease,” said Smita Thackeray.
The awareness against HIV and AIDS is much needed since India has the third largest HIV epidemic in the world, with 2.1 million people living with HIV. The most common means of spreading this HIV epidemic in India is by sexual transmission, which accounted for 86% of new infections in 2017/2018. Official records show that in the year 2017-18 alone 116 HIV positives died in Mumbai, showing a steep rise in HIV prevalence. This is just the official count and we suspect the reality to be even higher. Maharashtra also shows the highest number of HIV positive cases from the whole on India.
This year, Mukkti has also taken a unique stance by engaging the vast network of the Dabbawallas of Mumbai to spread awareness against HIV. The Dabbawallas wore Red in support of the cause and attached tags to each dabba they deliver in South Mumbai.