From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jan 24: A five-day international conference on Yoga, Naturopathy and Arogya Expo 2012 would be held in Bangalore from February 9.

The event is expected to attract more than 5,000 delegates from India and abroad, including prominent representatives from USA, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

The scheduled five-day conference will witness the presentations of 400 papers. About five lakh people are expected to visit the expo.

It will focus on communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and preventive health measures. Papers related to cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, food system and change in the life styles would be presented during the conference.

Karnataka’s Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas on Tuesday held interaction meeting with officials of the department and other stakeholders of the conference.

He said 1.98 lakh cases of HIV have been registered in the State till December last and more than one-third cases children have been infected with the disease.

A rehabilitation centre would be established for children infected with the HIV disease. A large number of HIV infected people have been residing in north Karnataka districts, Ramdas said.

The minister said a centre would be opened at the conference to facilitate health check of all visitors. Stalls would be installed to exhibit available naturopathy medicines.

He said a four-day yoga championship will also be held in the City from February 6 as a part of an international conference on Yoga, Naturopathy and Arogya Expo 2012.

The championship would be held at the indoor stadium at Koramangala in the City. Yoga expert B K S Iyengar and other yoga experts would participate in the contest.

The champion in the female category would be given the title “Bhuvana Yoga Sundari” and “Bhuvana Yoga Sundara” in the men category, Ramdas said.

The competition is open to all candidates of all ages, the minister said explaining that the championship will provide a platform to popularise yoga and create awareness about its health benefits.