Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Create awareness about AIDS

Staff Reporter

`Over 3.61 crore people in the world affected by HIV/AIDS' Young Women's Christian Association, the nodal NGO, will conduct the campaign in the district

PEOPLE-FRIENDLY: Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam flagging off a VCTC van in Salem on Friday. - Photo: P. Goutham

SALEM: People, particularly those in the rural areas, should be made aware of HIV/AIDS, Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam has said.

Inaugurating the district level Communication Campaign on HIV/AIDS at a function here on Friday, the Minister said that more than 3.61 crore people in the world were affected by HIV/AIDS. The Centre and State governments had taken up a number of initiatives to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Many awareness campaigns had been carried out to educate people about HIV/AIDS and preventive measures.

He called upon various departments, non-governmental organisations, voluntary organisations and self-help groups to work together to make people aware of HIV/AIDS.

Officials said that the Young Women's Christian Association, the nodal NGO, would conduct the campaign in the district. Awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS would be taken up in 400 villages in the district for one month as a part of the campaign. About 800 peer educators were selected for the purpose.The campaign would motivate the people to get tested in the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCTC).

The Minister also flagged off mobile VCTC vans. District Revenue Officer M. Rajarathinam presided over the programme.

Senior officials from the AIDS Prevention and Control Project - Voluntary Health Services and health officials also spoke.

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