HYDERABAD: The fear of stigma is slowly but surely being replaced by the realisation to get tested for HIV status in the State. And the figures indicate the attitudinal change in people from all walks of life.
If 5.9 lakh HIV tests were done in the State in 2005-06, the number swelled to 12.5 lakh in just nine months this year. The calls to Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) helpline ‘1097’ increased to 45,058 from 21,315 in 2005-07.
The high profile ‘Be Bold’ campaign launched in December 2006 is packaged to address all issues – from discrimination, to making it mandatory for youth to get tested before marriage according to Project Director, APSACS G. Asok Kumar.
The AIDS awareness campaigns over the years, though made people aware of how the disease gets transmitted, they failed to change the behaviour pattern of people.
“Be Bold was aimed at translating awareness into action,” he said.
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