JOIN US6,000 HIV infected persons in Udupi district
The district level interaction programme was organised by Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society in association with District Health and Family Welfare Department,
District Information Department, District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit and Centre for Advocacy and Research.
Speaking on the occasion District AIDS Officer Dr H Ashok informed that there are about 6,000 HIV infected in the district, of which 60 to 65 per cent are in the age group of 25 to 35 years.
Since 2002, nearly 600 patients have succumbed to infections caused by HIV. “Educating children and youth is a must to prevent this infection. Measures have been taken to cover all first grade government colleges and Pre University colleges in the district under awareness programme.
There are as many as 42 first grade government colleges and about 72 PU colleges in the district. We have already covered 85 per cent of first grade colleges and 50 per cent of PU colleges. We are creating awareness among students to protect them from HIV,” he added.
100 villages adopted
District health department has taken up sensitising programme at the village level. As many as 100 villages have been adopted and HIV information centres have been opened up in all the villages, he said.
As many as 45 HIV infected mothers had safe delivery in the district during the current year and all the new borns are safe from infection. About 28 pregnant HIV patients have been detected and majority cases are among migratory workers.
There are 149 infected children in the district. An annual package of Rs 9,600 is given to these children that can be used for their educational needs, he added.
During the interactive session a HIV infected student from the district studying in 1st year PUC shared her views and experiences. She said that she wants to dedicate her life to create awareness among masses regarding HIV by building up youth movement.
Earlier ZP CEO Prabhakar Sharma inaugurated the programme by shaking hands with Sanjeeva, a HIV infected person.