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Importance of sex education stressed

BERHAMPUR: In a ‘mock Assembly' conducted by school students in the city on Wednesday most young participants advocated the introduction of sex education in the school curriculum to curb the menace of HIV infection and AIDS among the youth.

This ‘mock assembly' was held at the town hall as part of the World AIDS Day observation. Over 70 participants from different schools participated in it. They included students from Berhampur, Gopalpur and HIV prone villages in Ganjam district.

A panel comprising of an advocate, teacher, doctor and politician acted as moderators for the ‘mock assembly'. Most student participants were of the view that ignorance was a major cause behind HIV infection which can be eradicated through proper education.

A cycle rally and audio-visual show was also organised in the morning on the occasion of World AIDS Day in the city. It may be noted that Ganjam is the most HIV infected and AIDS prone area of Orissa and ignorant migrant labourers are most vulnerable victims. Signature campaign for HIV awareness was organised at seven points in the city.

The rally moved around the city and its volunteers also went to all the slums in Berhampur to initiate awareness building measure regarding safe guards against HIV infection.

A conference of HIV positive persons was also held. Around 75 HIV positive persons including women took part in it. This conference was chaired by the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Ganjam district. The HIV positive persons elaborated their problems and issues. Most of them demanded the State government to provide them allowance to travel to ART centre to get their doses of medicine.

They alleged that due to lack of money to travel several AIDS patients were not coming to ART centre in MKCG medical college campus to get their regular doses of ART medicines.

They also complained against social stigma faced against them. They alleged that some doctors were reluctant to perform small operations on them and were even treating them like untouchables.

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