165 HIV cases found in Udupi: Dr Rohini

Udupi: In the current year, 165 HIV cases have been found informed Udupi district health officer Rohini at a press conference here.

In the state close to 8% of pregnant women are HIV infected and the district has 2% of them. Normally HIV is at 0.85% and at 0.58% in the district. 5,468 people are suffering from HIV AIDS and 3,695 people are receiving ART treatment. 1,014 have died. AIDS can be controlled through awareness. In 2011, of the tested 17 thousand people, the disease was identified in 1,002 people. Currently till October 210 persons have been identified to be infected by the disease.

Awareness programme

District AIDS control Officer Dr Chidananda Sanju spoke and said that awareness programmes relating AIDS are being conducted. 12 trained counselors are providing sex education and awareness on AIDS to the students of 250 high schools. Red ribbon clubs have been created in 35 colleges to spread awareness on AIDS, he said.

On Dec 1^st, the World Aids day will be celebrated at SMS PU College at Brahmavar ith the cooperation of the district administration, Health and family welfare department and district AIDS control and prevention unit.