The Hindu : Karnataka News : Belgaum on `red alert' on HIV cases

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 09, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Belgaum on `red alert' on HIV cases

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, MAY 8. Belgaum district has been put on "red alert'' owing to higher level of HIV positive cases among pregnant women.

S.C. Dharwad, District Health Officer, said today that his office had conducted a survey where tests for HIV were conducted in respect of 400 unlinked anti-natal anonymous cases. The result was shocking with 2.7 per cent pregnant women testing "positive''. Obviously, it indicated that the disease was prevalent among many men in the border district.

He was speaking at a function organised to mark World Red Cross Day here. The function was organised by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) and Military Hospital in the city. It was presided over by Brig. C.D. Sawant. Col. S.K. Suri (retd.), Army Medical Corps, and Maj. Gen. S.C. Gupta VrC (retd.), were present.

Stating that the Bill Gate Foundation had adopted Belgaum for "condom promotion'' as a step to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, Dr. Dharwad said that his office would soon implement the programme in an effective manner. On this year's global theme, "Stop discrimination'', he said discrimination against those having HIV/AIDS was illegal. He appealed to the people not to discriminate against such persons.

The Deputy Commissioner, B.S. Palaksha, who inaugurated the function, stressed the need to create greater awareness on HIV/AIDS.

The Vice-Chairman of IRCS, Belgaum, S.B. Kulkarni, highlighted the objectives of the society.

A tricycle was presented on the occasion to Mali Madhukar Namdev, a soldier, who lost his leg while fighting on the Indo-Pak border.

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