Karnataka - Mangalore   

More effort needed to tackle HIV/AIDS: Mohan Alva

Staff Correspondent

`Media should highlight problems of those affected'

MANGALORE: The Government should do more to effectively tackle HIV and AIDS, M. Mohan Alva, Chairman, Alvas' Education Foundation, Moodbidri, has said. Society should adopt a more humane attitude towards people afflicted with HIV and suffering from AIDS.

Inaugurating a daylong workshop on HIV/AIDS for journalists here on Tuesday, which was organised by the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS), the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) and the Information Department, Dr. Alva said that the media bears a huge responsibility in this regard. "The media, which has effectively highlighted the plight of people affected by the tsunami and other natural disasters, should also highlight how to deal with people afflicted with the disease," he said.

It is unfortunate that society looks down upon people diagnosed with HIV.

Most of this stems from a misconception about the means through which the disease spreads, he said. "People who are HIV positive are considered `immoral' or assumed to be promiscuous," he added.

Referring to the paucity of funds to carry out diagnostic tests, he suggested that the Government subsidise the same.

It should promote a combination anti-retro viral drugs rather than a single drug.

Suresh Belagaje, journalist, who was the chief guest, said misconceptions about AIDS are rife despite the availability of information.

The official approach to tackling AIDS should be directed towards creating awareness and not panic, he said.

Balakrishna, Deputy Director, Blood Safety; M.R. Mohanraj, surveillance officer, KSAPS; Jaggannath, district health officer; and Mohan, IEC officer, KHPT, were the resource persons.

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