Candle march led by CMHO for awareness on the eve of AIDS Day
Along with creating awareness about the disease, it is also important to eliminate social discrimination - Deputy Chief Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla
Bhopal: On the eve of World AIDS Day, the Health Department of Bhopal district organised a candle march for AIDS awareness on November 30. The candle march which started from the District Jaiprakash Hospital concluded at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla. Information regarding the causes and prevention of HIV infection was given in the rally. Along with this, awareness activities were organised to remove social discrimination and misconceptions towards people living with AIDS. This year this day is being celebrated on the theme of ‘Adopt the path of rights-My health, my right’.
On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla said that AIDS is a serious disease and being aware of this disease is the best way to prevent it. The Public Health and Medical Education Department of Madhya Pradesh is providing HIV testing facility free of cost in government health institutions. The entire cost of treatment of the disease is also borne by the government free of cost. Shri Shukla said that by knowing the four main causes of this disease and avoiding them, we can control the spread of this disease. Along with awareness about AIDS, it is also important to remove social discrimination and misconceptions towards people living with it.
Under the National AIDS Control Program, the target 95-95-95 has been set. Under this, by the year 2030, 95% of the HIV-positive people should be aware of their HIV status, 95% of the HIV-infected people should be ensured ART treatment and 95% of all HIV-infected people taking ART treatment should suppress their viral load.
Chief Medical and Health Officer, Bhopal District, Dr. Prabhakar Tiwari said that this disease can be prevented by using condoms during sexual intercourse, using only tested blood from a licensed blood bank, using a new syringe every time and getting a mandatory HIV test done during pregnancy. HIV infection does not spread by eating together, shaking hands or hugging, using eating utensils, clothes, bed, toilet, telephone, swimming pool, coughing, sneezing, mosquito bites or insect bites found in homes, etc.
Facility of free and confidential HIV testing and consultation is available in 9 ICTC centers of Bhopal. This test can be done in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gandhi Medical College, Sultania Janana Hospital, Jaiprakash District Hospital, Civil Hospital Bairagarh, Civil Hospital Dr. Kailashnath Katju, Tuberculosis Hospital, Civil Bairasiya and Community Health Center Kolar. For information on HIV AIDS, information can also be obtained by calling the national toll free helpline number 1097.
