Andhra Pradesh - Khammam   

Police to play bigger role in AIDS awareness

Photo: AVG Prasad

Rallying point: NGOs staging a demonstration seeking measures to combat AIDS at Eluru on the World AIDS Day on Monday. —

KHAMMAM: Superintendent of Police Mahesh M. Bhagwat said here on Monday that the police would opt for playing a bigger role in raising the awareness levels in the general public on aids. Releasing an audio CD of the police ‘kala jatha’ teams on the dreaded disease at a programme organized a part of the World Ids Day, he said all the police stations in the district were instructed to organise awareness meetings on the occasion.

It is not end of the road for the positive people, he said adding that such people would be able to live a longer and happy life in a right environment. The spread of AIDS owed much to the sexual transmission. “ If you are loyal to your partner you are safe.” The police personnel, who are expected to be battle ready all the time with total physical fitness in the present circumstances, should not fall prey to the disease. The problem was felt more in cities like Mumbai where in a sizeable segment of people had been working away from their families. The sex workers in the red light areas were often forced reportedly for unprotected sex, but it would be fatal. He wanted the HIV tests conducted before marriage as they would help avoid a greater risk in life. But it should not be forced only upon women. It should be made mandatory even for men. Many advanced medicines were being made available in the market to enhance the life of the positive people. The HIV positive people should not try to conceal their problem. Their families should be kept informed. He said the youth, who could help create more awareness among the tribal communities by communicating in their own language, would be inducted in the ‘kala jathas’.

He announced a cash award of Rs 5,000 for the cultural teams which came out with the CD.

ELURU: District AIDS Control Officer D. Kaladhar on Monday said a little over 23,300 people were identified as HIV victims in West Godavari district. Speaking at a programme in connection with the World AIDS Day, he said homosexuality was found to be the major factor for the higher incidence of HIV in the district. Joint Collector V. Durga Das said the district administration was planning to launch a campaign-on-wheels named ‘Mee Nestam’ in the district for two months shortly to create public awareness on AIDS. Screening tests would also be conducted free of cost during the campaign, he added.

Mayor T. Rama Rao flagged off a rally against AIDS. Students, volunteers of Red Cross and NCC, health workers and NGOs took part in the rally. The Joint Collector presented appreciation letters to social workers M. Leelavati (Lecturer), St. Theresa’s College for Women), M. Vijayalakshmi, K. Ramalakshmi, S. Santi and K. Jayalakshmi for active involvement in the campaign against AIDS.

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Police to play bigger role in AIDS awareness
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Police taking precautionary measures in tribal areas

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