Even as the AP government has announced an awareness campaign on AIDS/HIV in the state involving doctors, nurses and paramedical staff from June 15 to 30, a serious effort is being made to spread awareness about genetic disorders among the rural masses. The campaign is being organised by the Institute of Genetics and Hospitals for Genetic Diseases as part of its silver jubilee celebrations.

According to Prof. P P Reddy, Director of the Institute, it had planned to distribute posters, pamphlets and brochures about genetic abnormalities at all primary health centres and to the public across the state.

Addressing newsmen, Prof. Reddy said the Institute would also host radio talks and television programmes, apart from publishing articles on genetic diseases in newspapers and magazines. He said the Institute had already prepared a calendar of events, which it planned to organise in the year. The events included seminars, health check-ups, benefit shows, fancy dress competition for children, essay competitions for under-graduates, blood donation camps and debate competitions.

Prof. Reddy said the Institute would organise an international conference on ‘Human genome update’ from December 16 and play host to the Ninth National Conference of Cytologists and geneticists in Hyderabad scheduled from November 6. The Institute would also have a fund-raising campaign to strengthen its facilities and construct a Silver Jubilee Hall.