'Treat AIDS patients with respect'

She was speaking after inaugurating an AIDS awareness programme jointly organised by Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, District Administration, District Health and Family Welfare Department and District Legal Services Authority in Madikeri on Saturday. “AIDS has spread like a viral disease due to the free lifestyle of the youth. Bringing awareness about the disease among the citizens is the need of the hour,” she said.

Flagging off the magic show which was a part of the programme, District Sessions Court Judge Ashoka Nijagannavar said the future of our nation is dependent on the healthy youth. Therefore, the youth should act responsibly and keep themselves in control. The awareness programmes would help to bring awareness among the public in general and the youth in particular, he said.

In-charge Deputy Commissioner K M Chandre Gowda who was present at the programme said 30 per cent of India’s population is aged between 19-25. These youth should spend their life for good, instead of misusing the opportunity. AIDS awareness programmes should not be merely held as government programmes, rather they should become public movements. The general public and organisations should join their hands for the cause, he said.