A cycle rally on AIDS awareness was flagged off by Collector R. Lilly at the Government Medical College Hospital in Dharmapuri on Saturday to mark World AIDS Day. She also inaugurated a signature campaign to create awareness on prevention of AIDS.
Flagging off the rally and signature campaign, Ms. Lilly said that as many as 5,343 persons were identified as AIDS affected between 2006 and November 2012. During last year, 606 people were identified with AIDS virus, but the number has come down this year.
So far only 444 were reported with AIDS virus in the district. This was due to the awareness programmes conducted across the district by the department of health, NGOs and Social Service Organisation.
An ART Centre and seventeen counselling centres, three blood banks, a social welfare centre and a free legal aid centres were being opened, she added.
Ms. Lilly also gave away Rs. 2.22 lakh towards the expenses for the Orphan Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the district.
Oratorical, drawing and slogan writing competitions on AIDS awareness was also conducted for the school and college students. Medical Officers’ who served the HIV mothers during delivery and the nurses were given certificates of appreciation.
Over 500 students, volunteers of NGOs, officials from Health department participated.
K. Ulaganathan, District Supervisor, Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, welcomed the gathering.
P. Ramar, District Revenue Officer, Rajamahendran, president, HIV Positive Network, spoke on the occasion.
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