Kurnool: Collective efforts needed to prevent spread of AIDS

Kurnool: Joint Collector Rama Sunder Reddy on Monday called upon officials to make collective efforts to eradicate AIDS from the district. He said there was every need to give wide publicity on Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) to instill awareness among the people. Regarding the subject, the joint collector accompanied with the personnel of the medical department released various posters on prevention of AIDS at the joint collector's chamber.

Speaking on the occasion, the joint collector said the World AIDS Day would be celebrated on December 1 every year across the globe. "The HIV infected patients need acute care and attention. None of the AIDS patients should be seen low. They need good support and encouragement from society so that they can be cured at the earliest. Though the disease is curable, preventive measures have to be taken," the joint collector said.

Rama Sunder Reddy further said the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centre was sanctioned to Adoni Area hospital and the HIV infected persons can get better treatment at the ART centre and called upon the people to pledge to weed out the AIDS from the district.

District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Dr Rama Giddaiah said due to the prevalence of Covid-19, taking out rallies and arranging mass programmes were not allowed. Instead, the people are being infused with awareness through pamphlets and other means of media sources. However, the AIDS cases have been declined in the district, stated Dr Rama Giddaiah.

Additional DMHO (AIDS and Leprosy) Dr Chander Rao appealed to the students of NSS, school and college, the members of red ribbon club and others to participate at the web programme on the International AIDS Day. He urged the support of everyone to prevent the disease.

He further said the HIV patients were served medicines at their doorsteps by the field staff, voluntary organisations and the staff of ART centres. Recognising their services, the staff would be felicitated with commendation certificates on the AIDS Day celebration, added Chander Rao.

District manager Ali Hyder, physiotherapist Victor Monohar, HEO Shivashankar Rao and others participated.