Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Nov 29: A jatha and awareness programme to mark World AIDS Day 2024, with the theme for this year’s campaign ‘Take the right path; my health, my right’ to be held in Udupi, on December 2.
The Jatha will be inaugurated by P R Yogish, senior civil judge and member secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, Udupi.
Dr I P Gadad, district health officer, addressing media in the press meet held at district health and family welfare department auditorium on November 29, said, “December 1 is celebrated as World AIDS day. The HIV Aids are creating fear in people’s minds, therefore there is a need for spreading awareness about the disease. HIV is primarily transmitted through unsafe physical relationships. While cases are declining in our district, even a single case can pose significant risks. The people living with HIV AIDS must be treated as normal people. The availability of medicines helps them lead a healthy life. People must lead a proper lifestyle. Also, we are focusing on pregnant women to curb the spread of disease to children.”
Dr Chidananda Sanju S V, district programme officer, District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit, said, “Under the National AIDS control programme, we are working towards the 95-95-95 target: identifying 95 percent of HIV-positive cases, providing treatment to 95 percent of those diagnosed, and achieving viral load suppression in 95 percent of treated patients. Our district has successfully reached this milestone. Treating individuals with HIV significantly reduces the risk of further transmission. We operate 12 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centers (ICTCs) for HIV confirmation, with tests available at taluk, district, and private hospitals. Ten private hospitals collaborate with us by utilizing testing kits provided by our department. We also partner with NGOs to screen high-risk groups such as sex workers and migrant workers."
Dr Chidananda also said, “Blood testing is conducted at government blood units, Red Cross facilities, and Manipal Blood Bank. Our district has ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) units for first-stage treatment and ART-plus units for advanced care at Udupi District Hospital, Kundapur, and KMC Manipal. Additionally, we have five Link ART centres. The HIV positivity rate among the general population has declined to 0.20 percent from 0.26 percent last year. Currently, there are 126 HIV-positive individuals in the district, including 47 migrant workers.”
The district reported high blood donation rates, collecting 19,202 units as of October 2024. All donations undergo five mandatory screenings for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, and Malaria, ensuring safe transfusions and timely treatment for positive cases.
The jatha will commence at 9 am from Board High School Udupi, passing through K M Road and end at National Self Help Society Training Institute auditorium Ambalpady.
The formal programme will be held at the National Self-Help Society Training Institute auditorium, Ambalpady, at 10 AM on December 2. Dr K Vidya Kumari, deputy commissioner, will inaugurate the event, with Pratheek Bayal, CEO of the zilla panchayat, presiding.
The jatha and awareness programme is jointly organized by Udupi district administration, zilla panchayat, District Health and Family Welfare department, District AIDS Control and Prevention Unit, Tobacco Control Unit, district inspector’s office, District Legal Services Authority, Indian Red Cross Organization, Vidyaratna School and College of Nursing, Rashtriya Seva Yojana, Muniyal Institute of Ayurvedic Medical Science, Guard Association, Deepa Jyothi Network Udupi, Asare Charitable Trust, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Grama Abhivrudhi Yojan (R), National Self Help Society Training Institute and Pragathi Sauda.
The event will be attended by senior civil judge and member secretary District Legal Service Authority P R Yogish, deputy director, directorate of Divisional Health and Community Services, Mysore Division, Mysore Dr Mallika B, District Health and Family Welfare officers, Udupi I P Gadad, District surgeon Dr H Ashok, regional director, Coastal Regional Division, SKRDP Duggegowda, chairman, Indian Red Cross Society Basroor Rajeev Shetty.