State Govt aims to reduce HIV/AIDS cases to zero by 2030 Marathon 5K Red Run held to create awareness

As part of an awareness initiative on HIV/AIDS, the Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society (APSACS) organised the Marathon 5K Red Run on the BRTS Road in Vijayawada on Tuesday. The run was conducted from the Meesala Rajeswara Rao footbridge to BRTS signal point.
APSACS Project Director Dr A Siri and NTR District Deputy Police Commissioner Gowthami Salini flagged off the run at the Meesala Rajeswara Rao footbridge. Besides district-level winners of the marathon in three categories, various people, especially youngsters, took part in the run.
Speaking on the occasion, APSACS Project Director Dr Siri said that the primary objective of the run is to raise awareness and promote efforts to register HIV/AIDS cases to zero. She said people should not discriminate against HIV/AIDS victims, but show love and affection towards them.
She said there are around 10,000 HIV/AIDS patients in the State. By conducting awareness programmes, the State government aims to decrease this number to zero by 2030. Various kinds of programmes are being conducted across the State with this objective, she explained.
HIV/AIDS is transmitted from mother to child, and also when a syringe is reused on multiple persons, she added.
Dr Siri further said the national-level Marathon 10K Red Run will take place in Goa on November 10. The winners of the State-level Marathon 5K Red Run will represent the State in the national-level event. She presented cash prizes to the 5K Red Run winners, besides certificates and medals.
APSACS Joint Directors Bhagya Lakshmi, Dr Kameswar Prasad, Dr T Manjula, Deputy Director Dr Chakravarthi, ADM Dr Usha Rani, Coordinators Dr Rajendra Prasad, Adilingam, and others were present.