Awareness can prevent AIDS, says MLA Malladi

PNS|Vijayawada

State Planning Board Vice-Chairman and MLA Malladi Vishnu has said that AIDS can be prevented with awareness and everyone should work together to make Andhra Pradesh an AIDS-free State by 2030. He was the chief guest at the World AIDS Day programme organised by the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, Medical, Health & Family Welfare Department at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram on Thursday.

On the occasion Malladi Vishnu made the attendees take the oath to share awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS. This year’s theme is Equality: “Let’s Unite to End Inequalities” and he first signed and launched the campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishnu said that the Central and State governments are conducting programmes to control AIDS. He said that the State government is providing nutritious food and medicines for AIDS patients besides many schemes like ‘Jagananna Amma Vodi’ and free house sites. He said that Andhra Pradesh is the first in India to take the initiative to prevent AIDS.

World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year to raise awareness about AIDS, remember those who died of AIDS, and fight against HIV, the cause of AIDS. The World Health Organization decided to hold AIDS Day for the first time in 1988. He released posters designed for HIV/AIDS awareness and control. Later, Malladi Vishnu handed over cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to six patients under the auspices of the tribal welfare organization.

AP AIDS Control Society Project Director GY Naveen Kumar said that Andhra Pradesh is the leader in the implementation of HIV/AIDS control across the country. He said that after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, since 2015 the number of people infected with AIDS and the number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS decreased significantly. In order to remove discrimination against HIV and to create awareness among young men and women, the campaign programme ‘Safe Life’ was started in all educational institutions.

Earlier in the day, the ‘World AIDS Day Rally’ was taken out from the Shobhan Babu statue near Eluru Locks to Tummalapalli Kalakshetram. It was flagged off by APSACS PD Naveen Kumar.

Collector has breakfast with +ve kids
At another programme on the occasion of AIDS Day organised by Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM), District Collector S Dilli Rao had breakfast with children infected with AIDS. Later, the Collector said that it is the responsibility of everyone to work for an AIDS-free society. He said that awareness should be spread among people to use condoms to control AIDS.