Times of India
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Mangalore, Nov 6: “When the entire doctors’ community was sitting silent, it was Veenadhari who dared to fight against the drug lobby making a profit in the name of HIV/AIDS,” said renowned doctor and Alva’s Education Foundation chairman K Mohan Alva.
He was speaking at a public meeting here on Monday, to pay tribute to HIV activist Veenadhari, who died on Saturday.
Recollecting his long association with her, he said his acquaintance with Veenadhari was two decades old, even before she turned into an activist. “One day, it came like a bolt from the blue when Veenadhari was found to be HIV-infected. But later, the role she played as a social worker made all of us proud. In the matter of HIV-infected people, she achieved what doctors could not. She not only encouraged hundreds of HIV patients to lead a confident life, but also helped in wiping away the social stigma that prevailed among those with HIV,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, deputy commissioner’s head quarter assistant Prabhakar Sharma said it was surprising that her death occurred due to brain haemorrhage and not due to being HIV-infected. He suggested forming a trust in her name to carry on her noble works. Sharma promised all help from the district administration.
Those who worked with Veenadhari recollected their association with her. Her amazing skills, service to mankind, strong willpower and the way in which she took on society after openly declaring she was HIV-positive, were all remembered at the function held to remember and recall her deeds.