Focus on HIV/AIDS testing for pregnant women: Chamba doc

A special awareness camp on HIV/AIDS was organised for women trainees at the Rural Self-Employment Training Institute (RSETI), Balu, in Chamba, which is managed by the State Bank of India.

Addressing the gathering, District AIDS Program Officer Dr Harit Puri said HIV/AIDS was an incurable disease, and awareness and prevention was better than cure.

Dr Puri provided detailed information on the causes of the spread of HIV/AIDS, and precautions to avoid contracting the disease.

He encouraged everyone to voluntarily undergo HIV testing regularly to monitor their health.

He said special attention was being given to HIV testing for pregnant women in the district.

Free HIV testing services were available at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC) located in Chamba, Bharmour, Kihar, and Chowari, with confidentiality maintained by the department, he added.

Dr Puri noted that individuals aged 15 to 49 were the most affected by HIV, and this age group played a crucial role in the development of the country.

The impact of the disease on this demographic could disrupt the nation’s economy.

Therefore, he urged people to take advantage of the free HIV testing services available at ICTC centres.

For further information, individuals could call the toll-free number 1097, provided by the National AIDS Control Organisation, at any time, he said.