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Media execs join forces to fight aids at Miptv
MUMBAI: At the invitation of UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, CEOs from leading international media companies will meet in Cannes, France, as a part of the UN-backed Global Media Aids Initiative (GMAI).
The high-level event will take place on 12 April during the television market Miptv featuring Milia..
The gathering comes 15 months after the Secretary-General brought together 22 media leaders at United Nations Headquarters in New York to focus attention on how their companies could contribute to the fight against AIDS..
The January 2004 meeting saw the attending executives pledge their companies commitment and resources to raising public awareness and understanding about HIV/Aids. At the upcoming event,a score of new members will join the founders as the Initiative charts its future course.
According to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organisation, as many as two thirds of the 45 million new HIV infections projected to occur worldwide over the next decade could be averted with more effective prevention and public education efforts.
Annan says, “Television is an unparalleled medium for reaching people around the world, especially young people, who have a vital part to play in halting the spread of the epidemic. The commitment of media groups to joining the fight against HIV/AIDS is, therefore, of paramount importance. By bringing industry leaders together at Miptv Featuring Milia, we can highlight the achievements of the Global Media Aids Initiative, share new ideas and strategies for programming, and start transforming the Initiative into a truly global movement.”
This year the UN will have its largest representation ever at Miptv with 10 UN agencies participating. The Miptv Featuring Milia event will also feature a session where international television producers will be invited to pitch Aids programming to a panel of selected broadcasters. They will then commission the two winners and provide development funding.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
