World AIDS Day- J&K Health Minister for controlling AIDS through awareness

  Jammu/Srinagar,December 01 (Vijay Kumar) – Like other parts of the world, World AIDS Day-2009 was also observed in Jammu and Kashmir state, marked by several functions at the State, Divisional, District, college and school levels for creating awareness about the dreaded disease.

            The main celebration was organized at Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar, Jammu by J&K State AIDS Prevention and Control Society in collaboration with the College authorities.

            Inaugurating the function, the Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma said that Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) disease has acquired an alarming dimension as the malady not only kills the person slowly by destroying his immune system but the stigma associated with it.

            The Minister called upon civil society, NGOs and educational institutions to play their role in educating the people about the evil effects of the dreaded disease. He said the Government have taken various measures to contain the spread of this disease, while more needs to be done to eradicate this disease through awareness programmes.

             Sharma also called for introduction of sex-education right from the school level to educate students about the preventive measures against this disease.

            The Minister appreciating the efforts of the State AIDS Control Society and said that a vigorous campaign should be carried out in schools, colleges. He said that even religious preachers should be involved in educating the people about the dangers posed by this dreaded disease.

            Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education,           Atul Duloo, Project Director, AIDS Control Society, Dr. M. A. Wani and Director Health Services, Dr, Jasbir Singh also spoke on the occasion and briefed about the measures taken by the State AIDS Control Society and the Health Department for containing the spread of AIDS in the State.

            A large number of students, staff and Principal of the Women College were present on the occasion.

            The Minister gave away prizes among the students who excelled in poster making and slogan writing competition about AIDS prevention measures.

Like other part of the country, World AIDS Day was observed in District Hospital Ramban today.

            A large number of locals particularly women, bar members, officers, teachers, students, senior citizens and other attended the function.

            While addressing the gathering, Medical Superintendent of the hospital highlighted that the main aim and objective of observing World AIDS Day throughout the country is to make the people aware about the preventive measures from the dreaded disease. He said that this disease transmits through four major reasons such as Un-protected, un-natural sex and multi sex partners, blood and blood transfusions and syringes and razors sharing etc.

            He also asked the general public to come forward for counseling in the Health Institutions openly. He said that people should know HIV and understanding how it is transmitted, which is most important way to prevent the spread of HIV.

World Aids Day was also celebrated by Government Higher Secondary School, boys, Reasi. The students of the school under the guidance of Major NCC,  Ajay Raina and Lect. Anil Sharma took out a procession which passed through the main bazaar of Reasi town and finally culminated near Deputy Commissioner’s office Reasi.

            Earlier the Chief Medical Officer, Reasi gave awareness regarding spread of AIDS.

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