Role of students in prevention of AIDS crucial, says DC

Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim has said that the role of students is crucial in the prevention and control HIV/Aids as they are like messengers for the mass.

He was speaking at the World Aids Day programme organised by Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society, District Legal Services Authority, Mangalore Bar Association, District Health and Family Welfare Department and NSS units of all colleges of Mangalore University, at St Aloysius College auditorium here on Monday.

Speaking further, the DC said that the NSS volunteers can create awareness among people through camps. Their communication and awareness can lower the Aids cases drastically.

Though statistics show that South Indian states have 50 per cent of Aids patients of the country and Karnataka has 10 per cent, there is no need of getting scared about it. Here people are getting awareness about the disease and they go for test, but it is yet to happen in North India, he said.

Inaugurator of the programme, Principal District and Sessions Judge Uma M G said that most of the times Aids patients don’t share their problems and suffer with depression. So, one should fill confidence among those who are affected by HIV and they should be treated without any discrimination, she said.

Mangalore Bar Association President S P Chengappa said that Aids patients are being abandoned by their family and not getting treatment. So, for the protection of Aids patients, the Central government should implement HIV Act. The student organisations should put pressure on Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda regarding the same, he said.

St Aloysius College Principal Fr Swebert D’Silva said that young people should be aware of Aids and should know the preventive measures. They have more responsibility in bringing the affected people towards mainstream of society and show compassion towards them.

Red ribbon clubs

District AIDS Control Officer Dr Kishore Kumar said that World AIDS Day is being organised under the theme- ‘Bring to zero- new HIV infections, discrimination and AIDS related deaths’, from 2011 to 2015.

District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit is implementing National AIDS Controlling programme in the district. Red Ribbon Clubs have been formed in 64 colleges of the district, including 32 degree and 32 PU colleges. In collaboration with the labour department, awareness programme on Aids will be organised in 10 industries, he said.

Senior Civil Judge Ganesh B, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao, Wenlock Hospital District Surgeon Dr Rajeshwari Devi, Mangalore University NSS Coordinator Prof Vineetha Rai were present among others.