Month-long AIDS awareness campaign in Rohtak to kick off from August 12

A month-long AIDS awareness campaign will be launched in the district on August 12 to mark International Youth Day. Residents will be made aware about various facilities available under the National AIDS Control Programme as per the directions of the Haryana State AIDS Control Society, Panchkula.

Addressing a media workshop, Rohtak Civil Surgeon Dr Ramesh Chander Arya said awareness sessions would be organised at schools and colleges, besides awareness and testing sessions at common service centres, seminars, Red Runs and quiz contests.

The Civil Surgeon pointed out that Haryana was the only state in the country where the HIV AIDS affected residents were provided a monthly assistance of Rs 2,250.

“Anyone can get information about HIV and AIDS by calling on the national toll-free number 1097. All residents can get themselves tested for HIV/AIDS by visiting the nearest Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC). It is completely confidential and free of cost. Along with this, the HIV-positive persons are also provided medicines free of cost at the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres,” he stated.

Dr Arya observed that more work was required to be done to eradicate fear, discrimination and misconceptions regarding HIV/AIDS.

He asserted that a person infected with HIV/AIDS could protect his/her family properly by taking timely treatment.

“Prevention is the only way to prevent HIV/AIDS. However, if detected and treated timely, the viral load of the infected person can be kept in check so that the infection does not transmit to other persons,” said the Civil Surgeon.

As the keynote speaker, Cluster Programme Manager Manoj Kumar from the District Integrated Strategy for HIV/AIDS (DISHA), Jind, gave information about the facilities available under the National AIDS Control Programme and highlighted the the active role of journalists in the programme.

The District Nodal Officer of the programme, Dr Dinesh Garg, appealed to the journalists to create awareness among the residents regarding HIV/AIDS as well as testing and treatment facilities being provided by the government.

Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Aniljit Trehan, programme coordinator and District Family Welfare Education Officer Suresh Bhardwaj and counsellor Kusum were present.