AIDS awareness gets wheels in Kapurthala

Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, October 31

An AIDS awareness van will spread awareness and also conduct free tests in the Kapurthala district for the coming one month. The van, inaugurated at the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, by Civil Surgeon Dr Gurinderbir Kaur, is an initiative to spread AIDS awareness and bust myths regarding the disease among the common populace. The Punjab State AIDS Control Society, under instructions from the state government, has been holding AIDS awareness drives in the state.

The said van, launched in the district on October 29, will stay in the district until December 6. The van will visit different areas and will ascertain the causes of AIDS, its symptoms and discuss its prevention among the local populace also simultaneously spreading AIDS awareness.

During the launch of the campaign, Civil Surgeon Dr Gurinderbir Kaur also said with the help of the AIDS awareness van, free HIV tests of people will also be conducted and local councilors will also spread awareness among people about the prevention from AIDS and the myths about it. Nukkad nataks will also be held on the field during this awareness drive.

Discussing the reasons of the spread of AIDS, the Civil Surgeon said AIDS was caused by unprotected sex with an HIV infected person, transfusion of HIV infected blood, sharing of HIV infected syringes and from an HIV positive mother to her child. She also said there were many false notions and myths in the society regarding the spread of AIDS.

Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr Anu Sharma said free treatment of AIDS was available at government health centres. She also said testing of AIDS was free at the ART centre at Civil Hospital, Kapurthala.