The Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) will hold a massive rally on Sunday, the World AIDS Day, in Hyderabad, to focus attention on AIDS prevention. About 10,000 people belonging to NSS, NCC, NGOs, Lions and Rotary Clubs, schools and college children will participate in the rally starting from Ambedkar statue to the Necklace Road where it will be addressed by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
According to a spokesman of APSACS, the focus of the rally will be on prevention as there was no cure for the dreaded disease. HIV/AIDS spreads only through blood and sex. The government has taken measures to ensure that blood transfusion is safe in AP. But it is the responsibility of the people to have safe sex. To have safe sex there are two options - have sex with only one partner or use condoms. The message will be make love safely and you will live safely.
Nav Bharat Nirman Sangh, a social organisation, will take out a rally consisting of 50 two-wheelers and 50 cars from Ramnagar Cross Roads to the nearby Aware Hospital in the city. School and college children will participate in the rally. According to NBNS president S Ravi Kumar, the theme of the rally was "Prevention of AIDS and HIV through a disciplined life." The rally will also highlight the need to be loyal to one's life partner.
Within days of Bill Gates' visit to Hyderabad and his announcement that AP would be chosen for a pilot project on AIDS prevention programme, the Bill and Melinda Foundation has set in motion the exercise for reducing the incidence of AIDS in the state. The Foundation representatives will tour the state to study the causes for high incidence of AIDS in the state, remedial measures to check its spread and the ongoing campaign against AIDS and to suggest measures to prevent the syndrome. The representatives will submit their report in four to five weeks. Based on their report, a project proposal will be prepared for getting aid.
The Catholic Health Association (CHAI), as part of its School AIDS Education, has completed its training programme for teachers and peer educators on Friday. Over 448 participants from 112 schools attended the progrmme started in October, in different batches. The teachers were trained for four days for imparting life skill education and AIDS awareness in schools. An action plan for each school had been prepared by the teachers and peer students for implementation in their schools. Eleven members of the Indian Red Cross Society were also trained for holding awareness programme.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has made it clear to the state AIDS Control Society that the government does not have any proposal to bring in a legislation making HIV test mandatory before marriage. It is reported to have told the Society that the test could be only voluntary and any move to make it compulsory would lead to social complications. Though the Society had received suggestions from the state government and some other quarters over the subject, the Society did not come out with any stand since it was against the national policy