Aids can be prevented only through awareness – Priyanka Mary
Udupi: Aids can be prevented only by creating awareness among the youth and students, said Priyanka Mary Francis chief executive officer of Udupi Zilla Panchayat.
She was speaking on the occasion of ‘World Aids Day’ jointly organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Health & Family Welfare Department, District Hospital, District aids prevention Unit and Primary health Center Barkur at the Rukmini Shetty Government first grade college Barkur here on Thursday, December 1.
As many as 2 million aids patients are suffering in India. The Karnataka state is also among the top five in the country because of the many migrant workers coming to the state. People must be educated about the disease and the ways to prevent it, she added.
Dinakar Babu President of Udupi Zilla panchayat inaugurated the world Aids day programme and said that creating awareness among people was the only way to prevent Aids. Aids patients do not share their problems. So, one should fill confidence among those who are affected by HIV. The society should bring hope to HIV-infected patients by way of boosting their confidence to live with the disease and bring awareness in the prevention of HIV.
The society should give an opportunity for the HIV infected people to live as normal people. The community should change its perspective towards HIV patients and stop isolating them, he said.
District health and family welfare officer Dr Rohini delivered introductory remarks. Taluk Health officer Dr Nagarathna welcomed the gathering.
Sheelak K Shetty vice president Udupi zilla panchayat, Nalini Pradeep Rao Taluk Panchayath president, Shaila D’Souza president Barkur grama panchayat, Sharada Poojary president Hanehalli GP, Dr Sudeerchandra Sooda, Dr Chidananda, Prof Vasanth Raj Shetty, Latha, Gracy Gonsalves and others were present.