HUBLI: Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases appears has emerged on the top of the agenda of agencies involved in combating the dreaded HIV/AIDS in Hubli-Dharwad, an area known to be highly susceptible to such cases in the State.

This came up for discussion at the third meeting of the agencies involved in the campaign designed to bring about a coordinated approach to tackle the problem, here on Wednesday.

This follows the lead taken by the India Canada Collaborative HIV/AIDS Project, (ICHAP), which is running three centres in the State, including one in Dharwad district. A coordination committee has been formed bringing under one-roof four non-government organisations working under the ICHAP and three others and government agencies with a view to giving a focussed approach to tackle the problem. The latest to join the coordination committee has been World Vision, which is working with the children of the HIV and AIDS patients.

It was revealed during the discussion that a random check had put the percentage of people with sexually transmitted diseases at between 18 and 19. This figure had necessitated the scaling up of operations. Besides, the treatment network available with referral doctors of the government, the project doctors and others working in the primary health units, was to be spread wide.

Another issue that came up for discussion was the increase in the availability of condoms for the targeted group as part of preventive measures under way. Based on the trends, it has been estimated that Dharwad district needs a supply of 22 lakhs condoms a year and there is a wide gap between what is available and what is required.

PSI, an NGO forming part of the coordination committee, has taken up the issue of social marketing of condoms. It was felt that there was a need to increase the number of outlets for making condoms available. While the susceptible groups such as drivers could afford to spend Rs. 5 on a condom, it might not be possible for the other economically weaker groups, for whom condoms had to be made available free.

The question of enlisting the services of yoga teachers in providing a holistic approach to health and of going in for an analytical study of the work for deepening understanding of the problems also came up for discussion.

``The coordination committee meetings and sharing of the views have been proving to be useful,'' says Dattatraya Bant, technical officer of ICHAP, Hubli.

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