The incidence of HIV/AIDS among youth in the country is on the rise. Of the 35 lakh people living with HIV, 30%are in the age group of 15 to 29 years and 40% are women, Sujatha Rao, Director General of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), said on Sunday.
Rao was speaking at the two-day religious Hindu leaders’ caucus ‘Faith In Action’, organized by the Art of Living in association with United Nations Aids Control (UNAIDS) and Asian Interfaith Network on Aids.
Rao also highlighted concerns over increasing cases of youngsters taking to drugs. She attributed this to breakdown in families, lack of direction in life and low self-esteem.