PMC takes up AIDS fight

PUNE, Nov 30: Maharashtra has an astonishing tally of 3,315 full blown cases of Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) out of a total...

PUNE, Nov 30: Maharashtra has an astonishing tally of 3,315 full blown cases of Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) out of a total of 6,607 in the country. The alarming statistics as revealed till October ’98 has geared the State Government to launch a massive AIDS awareness programme in cooperation with municipal corporations. It will be kicked off in Pune on December 1.

State Health Secretary Nanasaheb Patil told media persons that Pune has the second largest incidence of the deadly virus in the state with at least one in every five male sexually transmitted diseases (STD) patients infected with the virus. With 1,309 AIDS cases reported in the age group 20-29 years and 1,197 in the age group of 30-39 years out of the Maharashtra figure of 3,315, the State Government has decided to concentrate on the youth.

The municipal corporations have been entrusted with the responsibility of roping in non-government organisations and working towards creating awareness by setting up counselling centres, organise exhibitions and take out rallies as part of the AIDS week from December 1-7. Patil said that health-check up camps have been organised for CSWs, condoms will be distributed advocating safe sex and the youth will be involvedto a larger extent in the programme.

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Apart from modernisation of blood banks, sensitisation workshops will be conducted, Patil said however admitting that the State did not have a proper AIDS care programme. According to Additional Municipal Commissioner Deepak Kapoor, a huge rally including school children and youth will be flagged off by Health Minister Daulatrao Aher and Mayor Vatsala Andekar from Yerawada chowk and will culminate at the B J Medical ground on December 1 which is observed as World AIDS Day.

Information regarding the prevention of the disease will be provided by the Department of Field Publicity while rallies and exhibitions will be organised every day during the AIDS week.