The Hindu : Front Page : Prevalence of AIDS among industrial workers high

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
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Prevalence of AIDS among industrial workers high

S. Prasad

Easy access to unsafe sex is the main reason
Many die in Shoolagiri, Hosur, Rayakottai and Jawalagiri due to HIV/AIDS

Hosur: The prevalence of AIDS among industrial workers in Hosur remains a cause for concern.

According to sources in Rural Inter Disciplinary Development Society (RIDS), a non-governmental organisation, part of the Aids Prevention and Control Project (APAC), as many as 62 HIV positive industrial workers are regularly visiting them for counselling. In addition to this, about 60 persons with sexually-transmitted infections also approach them for guidance.

Of which, a majority are from rural areas in and around Hosur.

According to E. Radha, a counsellor with RIDS, “As Hosur is located on the State border, a number of sex workers are operating in the town. Though continuous campaigning has raised the awareness level, among industrial workers about the killer virus, the easy access to unsafe sex defeats the purpose of campaigns. Many people who died due to HIV/AIDS were from Shoolagiri, Hosur, Rayakottai and Jawalagiri.”

With Bangalore just a stone’s throw away, migrant workers move to the city in search of lucrative employment and end up with the HIV infection.

It is learnt that a similar pattern of HIV cases was also prevalent among workers in Bargur, which is known for its large-scale textile business. In rural areas the situation is even worse since those affected with Sexually Transmitted Diseases fail to obtain proper medical treatment.

According to Mohan Kumaravelu Director, RIDS, “Out of a total of 90,000 industrial workers in Hosur about 35,000 workers have been covered through one-to-one awareness programmes.”

“Apart from this, antenatal mothers are tested on every Tuesday and Thursday at the ESI hospital in the town. On instructions from APAC, a multi-sectoral campaign has been adapted to create awareness among industrial workers on safe sexual practices and also seek medical intervention in case of being affected with the virus.”

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