The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Governor voices concern over rise in HIV cases

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Sunday, Dec 02, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Governor voices concern over rise in HIV cases

Staff Reporter

‘Concerted efforts needed to spread awareness about disease’

Youth Peer Education programme launched in schools, colleges in two districts
‘Efforts should be made to address needs of people living with HIV/AIDS’

BANGALORE: “Despite the ongoing campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, the number of HIV positive cases has been going up,” Governor of Karnataka, Rameshwar Thakur said here on Saturday.

Inaugurating the programme to observe World AIDS Day, organised by the Indian Red Cross Society – Karnataka State branch here, Mr. Thakur said concerted efforts had to be made not just by the government, but by all sections of society to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS.

G. Kumar Nayak, Commissioner, Public Instruction, and vice-chairman of the Karnataka State branch of the Indian Red Cross Society, said the society had launched the Youth Peer Education programme in schools and colleges in Shimoga and Dakshina Kannada districts to create awareness about HIV/AIDS and would soon launch the programme in other districts.

Taking a lead in empowering the women on World AIDS Day, Karnataka Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (KNP+) launched the first Karnataka State Women’s Forum of positive people and formed an action plan for the coming year at the concluding session of the three-day workshop organised at Indian Society of Health Administrators here on Saturday. “The workshop envisaged greater involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA) in the campaign about the scourge. A seven-member body to run the Women’s Forum of Positive People has been elected. Saina of Dharwad will be the chairperson while Ambika of Gadag will be the vice-chair,” said Asha Ramaiah, general secretary, KNP+.

The Karnataka AIDS Prevention Society organised a programme to observe World AIDS Day here on Saturday.

Speaking at the programme, R. Elango, founder-member, India Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, said the fight against HIV/AIDS should not just be confined to prevention, and efforts had to be made to address the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

He said that apart from providing Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), the needs of persons suffering from opportunistic infections had to be looked into.

Hanumanthappa Maradi, ART counsellor at the Bagalkot district hospital, was presented the best ART counsellor award while the ART centre at the Belgaum district hospital was adjudged the best ART centre.

Vasundhara Bhupathi and Prakash Hebbar, journalists, were given awards for their articles on HIV/AIDS.

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