People with HIV/AIDS need psychological and societal support more than medical aid to help them lead normal life, zilla panchayat president Umesh Kolkur has said.
“Since no medicine has been developed so far to cure these patients, emotional support is vital for giving them dignity in life while doctors give them medicine to prevent spread of the disease,” he said after inaugurating the World AIDS Day programme on Monday.
The event was organised by the district administration, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society and National AIDS Control Organisation.
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Stressing the need for education about AIDS, Mr. Kolkur said youth should be counselled about it at the college level.
S. S. Yernal, Head of the department of Community Medicine, AlAmeen Medical College, said the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country should be brought down to zero.
After Bengaluru, the northern districts of Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Belagavi had a large number of HIV/AIDS cases. Jamkhandi and Mudhol taluks of Bagalkot district have the highest number, he said.
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The Women and Child Welfare Department said it had opened Red Ribbon Clubs in 22 PUC and 31 degree colleges of the district to educate the youth. The government grants Rs. 4,000 per college for such programmes.