District Aid Preventions and Control unit (DIPCU) observed World AIDS Day at the District Collectorate, today. The theme for this year is ‘Stop new HIV/AIDS infection through good leadership’. As a part of the celebrations, a commitment that this awareness messages should reach even the unreached was made. Zero discrimination should be impact, Coimbatore Collector T.N. Hariharan said.
In his address the collector praised those who are working for the people infected with HIV/AIDs. He also said that it is a collective responsibility towards creating a HIV free society.
The collector also detailed the various efforts that are undertaken by the district administration towards preventing HIV/AIDS in partnership with the District AIDS prevention and Control Unit. AIDS patients living in Coimbatore are being given antiretroviral therapy (art) free of cost through the ART Center at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
About 70,111 pregnant women were tested positive for HIV up to October 2016. There are 30 integrated counselling and testing centres that are providing free counselling and testing for HIV/ AIDS. Red Ribbon clubs have been formed in 152 colleges in Coimbatore and more than 14,350 students have enrolled in these clubs as volunteers. In order to create the awareness about HIV/AIDS, competitions like slogan writing and drawing competitions were organised.
Despite the various efforts of the government to create awareness about the disease myths and misconceptions about HIV prevail among the people. A one-day HIV/AIDS awareness programme was conducted for various government departments. More than 1,000 people participated in the event. HIV/AIDS patients, members of civil society organisations, government officials among others participated in this programme.