JOIN USMembers of the various forums for Aids patients have sought introduction of HIV/Aids Bill during the winter session of Parliament.
The HIV/AIDS Bill is an anti-discrimination law, that protects person from discrimination based on HIV, both in public and private sector. HIV-affected face stigma and discrimination in different spheres of life. There is a need for a law, which protects the rights of the HIV patients, the members said at a programme organised to mark World Aids Day here on Sunday.
People are often tested for HIV without their consent, and if found positive, their confidentiality is breached, leading to stigma and discrimination against them. A law is required to protect their right to consent, they said.
According to the official figures, the City has 26,922 HIV infected, of whom 13,000 are males 10,949 are females and 1,944 children. In the Bangalore Urban district, 2,496 persons have returned positive between April and October this year.
The Bangalore Schools Sports Foundation had organised a 5K run in the City as part of the World Aids Day. Moe than 600 children took part in the run.
Olympians Reeth Abraham, Ashwini Nachappa, Hockey Olympians Ashish Ballal, Jude Felix, ex-India stumper SMH Kirmani, Robin Uthappa, Paralympian H N Girisha among others participated in the event.
More than 300 students took part in a walkathon, organised by the Indus Business Academy, to create awareness about Aids. They also organised a flash mob at a mall in Malleswaram, later in the day.
Various institutions had organised programmes across the City to mark the day.