Role of youth important in curbing AIDS: Dist Health Officer

World AIDS Day: NGOs and organisations take out awareness rally

In his address at the World AIDS Day programme organised at the Town hall here on Wednesday, he said prevalence rate of HIV infection was more among the youth aged between 18 and 25 years recently. The high rate of infection in youth was a matter of concern, he said.

Rao said about 2.5 million people of which 13 lakh women were infected with the HIV virus across the Country.

While there are 2.5 lakh people infected in the State, Mysore district has registered about 13,866 HIV positive cases so far.

The prevalence rate among the youth has gone up across the world, including India than the prevalence rate in the upper age limit of 40 years, he added.

Explaining the symptoms of early days of infection, he said the patients with HIV infection should access medical care at the earliest at the nearest ART centre. They have a special responsibility to prevent the spread of virus through self restraint.

 Those who are not infected, should also exercise caution and take preventive measures especially pertaining to practising safe sex, usage of syringes and while blood transfusion.

”Being faithful to spouse or partner is the best way as prevention is better than cure,” he said.

In her inaugural address, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat G Sathyavathi said the parents and the society have a responsibility to see that teenagers don’t tread the wrong path.

 “The family values have come down and the present youth are aping western lifestyle, which is a concern,” she stated.

The programme was jointly organised by District Health and Family Welfare office, District AIDS Prevention and Control Centre, District Legal Services Authority, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Asha Kirana, Ashodaya Samithi and several other non-profit organisations and forums.

Earlier, Minister for Medical Education and District Incharge S A Ramdas flagged off a rally at Mysore Medical College & Research Institute(MMC & RI) premises. On the occasion, he said his Ministry would do all efforts to check the spread of HIV and bring down the rate of infection by next year.

He asked the medical fraternity to boost the morale of HIV infected to live life with the virus.

Dean and Director of MMC & RI Dr Geetha Awadhani, Head of ART centre Dr Vasudeva Nayak, District AIDS Prevention Officer Dr T Raghu Kumar, Dr Rajan, Dr M A Balasubramanya of VILD and others were present.

South Western Railway

In keeping with its social commitment, the Department of Railways also chipped in to contribute its bit in creating awareness on prevention of AIDS here. Divisional Railway Manager, South Western Railways B B Verma flagged off a rally from the railway station.

Gautham Majumdar, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Dr Pradeep Kumar, Chief Medical Superintendent of Railway Hospital and senior officials were present.

The rally passed through the thoroughfares to culminate at the Railway Hospital in Yadavagiri.

The participants carried placards and banners with messages about AIDS and its prevention.

Legal services authority

District Principal and Sessions Judge H P Sandesh flagged off a 10-day AIDS awareness rally, jointly organised by the Legal Services Authority and the Information Department, at the Law Courts here.  Speaking on the occasion, he asked the society to be compassionate and caring towards the people living with HIV/AIDS .

“The society should not let the HIV infected people feel that they are untouchable. We must create an environment where they can also live a respectable and peaceful life,” he said. The rally would travel across the district spreading awareness on HIV infection in every taluks.