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Educate public on preventive aspects: Lakhera

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, AUG. 24. The Lieutenant Governor, M.M. Lakhera, today said there was a pressing need to create awareness among the people of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) to ensure effective prevention, particularly since there was no cure.

Inaugurating a training programme for a batch of 677 anganwadi workers and 220 balasevikas organised by the Voluntary Health Services (VHS), Chennai, in collaboration with the Pondicherry AIDS Control Society here, Mr. Lakhera said there should be mass education, sustained training and a relentless campaign to create public awareness on preventing AIDS. The focus should be on the vulnerable groups. The training of anganwadi workers and balasevikas would help them effectively disseminate the message to the people in grass roots.

Mr. Lakhera released a book — Behaviour Surveillance Survey in Pondicherry (Wave III) — brought out by the AIDS Prevention and Control Project wing of the VHS.

Media involvement

The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, R.V. Janakiraman, said the electronic and print media should be involved in the dissemination of AIDS-prevention measures.

The Chief Secretary, C.S. Khairwal, said the training programme should be extended to bureaucrats, police officers, legislators and political leaders.

The Director of Health and Family Welfare Services, G.S. Reddy, said the AIDS Control Society had tested more than 2 lakh blood samples till 2003 and 7,593 samples tested positive.

The VHS Secretary, N.S. Murali, detailed the features of the AIDS Prevention and Control (APAC) Project.

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