CHENNAI: About 20 lakh Indian women in monogamous relationships land up with HIV/AIDS. Simply put, this means that as many women contract the infection from their husbands, who refuse to use condoms.

The Hindu

By Tamil Nadu

Someone is finally sitting up and taking a keen look at this particular fact, and trying to change the patterns by building an equitable relationship between couples, allowing a dialogue to take place between them.

Breakthrough, an international human rights organisation, has launched a media campaign to bring to public attention the growing numbers of positive married women in India. "What kind of man are you?" is their 360 degrees integrated communications campaign to feature on TV, radio, print advertisements, movie theatres and Internet. It encourages dialogue between the husband and wife. It also includes a music video picturised on the song `Maati' from Breakthrough's album Mann Ke Manjeere, sung by Shuba Mudgal.

Prasoon Joshi, who is the creative head behind the entire campaign, has also penned the lyrics for the song, which features Mandira Bedi and Samir Soni. He says: "This is the first time that a campaign encouraging married couples to get involved in dialogue on gender relations and HIV/AIDS."

A special partnership with Rediff has given birth to an SMS service for queries on issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Mobile phone users can SMS their question to BRK 7333 and will receive replies, again via SMS, clarifying their doubts, according to Mallika Dutt, executive director, Breakthrough.

Addressing media persons at the Chennai launch of the Tamil What kind of man are you? Mandira Bedi, who plays the protagonist in the music video, says, " I hope this campaign will empower women to discuss sexuality and their relationship with male partners.

Her role in Maati is one of a young mother-to-be who has just discovered that she has been infected with HIV by her husband and feels she has been betrayed.

Samir Soni plays the husband who thinks he cannot possibly be infected with HIV/AIDS and therefore takes unnecessary risks.

He also hopes that the campaign can kick off a well-meaning, constructive dialogue, leading to changes.

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