The National Pharmacy Week (November 19-24) has been celebrated for more than 30 years now, but this is the first time that its theme was "Pharmacists shouldering the responsibility to promote AIDS awareness."

The first step towards this endeavour was taken up by the Delhi Pharmaceutical Trust (DPT), which organised a silent rally on November 19, holding placards from the Ramlila Ground up to Jantar Mantar. This event was the first of a kind where pharmacists took to the streets in Delhi. This pro-active step received a massive support wherein over 1,000 pharmacists and chemists from retail chemist shops, hospitals and dispensaries participated to make this event a success.

Says Dr D B A Narayana, a managing trustee of DPT: "The trust believes in working as a catalyst to train professionals so that Indian citizens are not denied professional service by pharmacists in future." The DPT recognises that this is indeed a very big task. The trust undertook several consumer surveys as well as surveys amongst professional pharmacists to understand the need gaps, he adds.

Pharmacists will also tell people that testing positive to Elisa and Rapid tests is not enough to jump to the conclusion that one is suffering from AIDS. Says Dr Renu Razdan, a member of DPT: "Such patients should then be guided by the pharmacists to undertake a Western blot and an immuno fluorescent test." Although these two tests are very expensive, yet they are fairly accurate in showing the HIV status. Plus, there are a number of other tests that are required for a final confirmation that the concerned patient has AIDS. Here the pharmacists can play an active role in guiding people.

DPT is not the only organisation involved in the campaign. Says Mr Ajaypal Gupta, a pharmacist and senior member of Druggist and Chemists Association in Delhi: "Pharmacists can play a phenomenal role in spreading AIDS awareness. Unfortunately neither the government nor the National Aids Control Association (NACO) has actively considered involving this huge number of qualified pharmacists in the national programmes." He adds: "Hence this year instead of sitting quietly and thinking that somebody will approach us, we decided to make our presence and availability felt all over the country." Similarly, silent rallies of pharmacists are taking place at almost in major cities and towns in the country..