NEW DELHI: Doordarshan's health campaign Kalyani has been awarded UNAIDS Civil Society Awards 2006 in recognition of outstanding commitment and support to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Doordarshan Director General LD Mandloi and Senior Director Usha Bhasin Development Communication Division, Doordarshan received this prestigious award during a special ceremony held at the National Stadium here on World AIDS day on 1st of December.

Kalyani, DD's in-house production with more than 3,752 episodes, remains the longest running health communication initiative in India.

In a country where 70 per cent of HIV cases are not reported due to the stigma factor according to the report of National Council for Applied Economic Research, NACO and UNDP Kalyani has made an impact in breaking the silence on HIV/AIDS and in reducing stigma and discrimination against the victims, a press statement from DD said.

Kalyani was earlier awarded Broadcast Engineering Society's Best Public Service Broadcasting Award of the year 2006 for its impact on HIV/AIDS, and received nomination for the Rose d' Or Award of Switzerland, one of the most coveted television entertainment award in the world.

These are not the only two awards conferred on Kalyani. In 2004, Kalyani won Gates Malaria Award and in 2005 the RAPA (Radio and T.V Advertising Practitioner's Association) Award.

Kalyani is being telecast four times a week on 21 DD Kendras in nine most populous states of India at 6.30 pm.