Media Release
Udupi, Dec 3: World AIDS Day is held on 1 December every year. It is an international day to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS around the world. The theme of this year's event is “Human rights and access to treatment”. The theme has been chosen to address the critical need to protect human rights and make HIV prevention, treatment, care and support accessible to all. The theme acts as a call to countries to remove laws that discriminate against people living with HIV.
Karnataka AIDS prevention society in association with District AIDS control and prevention unit, Udupi; District Health and Family Welfare Department, Udupi; Dr.A.V.Baliga group of institutions, Udupi; Indian Medical association, Udupi and IMA charitable trust, Udupi organized World AIDS Day Programme On 1st December 2009 at IMA hall, Brahmagiri, Udupi.
There was an awareness rally by students of various schools and Nursing and social work colleges of udupi. The rally commenced at 9.AM from service bustand, udupi to IMA hall, Brahmagiri. around 800 students participated in the rally.
At 10 am the function at IMA hall was inaugurated by Dr.Santhosh Kumar Shetty, Vice president, Dist panchayat and P.Hemalatha, Hon. District commissioner, Udupi dist presided over the function. Smt. Gladis Almeda, President, Dist panchayat, Udupi; Dr.B.M.Hegde, ART officer, Udupi dist; Dr. Vijay kumar Shetty, President IMA, Udupi; Dr.P.V.Bhandary, Director, Dr.A.V.Baliga Memorial hospital, Udupi were invited as chief guests. Dr.Ramachandra Bairy, Dist Health officer, Udupi; Dr.Ashok, Dist AIDS control officer, Udupi dist and Mr.Prasanna Kumar, CEO, Dist panchayat udupi were also present on the stage.
Dr.Santhosh Kumar shetty after inaugaration said that India is in second place in having AIDS cases in the world. So its our duty to create awareness regarding this. P.Hemalatha in her presidential address said that Government is ready to create awareness regarding HIV/AIDS not only in cities but also in taluk and village level.
Dr. Ramachandra Bairy welcomed the guests, Dr.Ashok gave the introduction and current statistics of HIV/AIDS in udupi dist, Mrs. Soujanya shetty co-ordinated the program and Dr.Manje gowda IEC officer udupi did the vote of thanks.