Vizianagaram, February 24: Print and electronic media journalists have been asked to dispel myths and misconceptions among people on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and educate them on effective preventive measures to be taken.
At a media advocacy workshop on HIV/AIDS, organised by A.P. State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) at DM& HO Office on Wednesday, Additional Joint Collector M. Rama Rao asked journalists to project incidents of social stigma that a HIV/AIDS patient would be experiencing in rural areas. He appealed to journalists to report with compassion.
He said 2070 people were tested HIV positive out of 27,132 blood smears examined in 2008-09, 1,814 out of 39,094 in 2009-10 and 1,406 people were tested positive out of 38,396 blood samples tested in 2010-11(till the end of last month).
District Medical and Health Officer U. Swarajya Lakshmi said that social support and medical care would increase life span of a positive person and asked the media to educate people on preventive aspects.
Additional DM & HO (AIDS and Leprosy) S. Chandra Reddy said that about 10,000 positive cases were reported in the district. Dr. Reddy said an exclusive laboratory for testing HIV and leprosy patients was opened at the district headquarters hospital, priority in housing to those who registered at ART centres, Antyodaya cards and Rs. 200 per month as pension were being provided to the patients.
Red Ribbon Clubs
He said Red Ribbon Clubs were opened in 122 colleges and 200 high schools in the district with an intention to create awareness on HIV/AIDS and also to promote voluntary blood donation programme. He said that 68 integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) were opened apart from four community care centres and two STD treatment centres.
-Agencies