36 Industries in K'taka and AP enrol to provide training on HIV/AIDS

Bangalore, Nov 3 (UNI) As many as 36 industrial units, in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, have enrolled to provide training and education to their employees on the dreaded disease HIV/AIDS with Population Services International (PSI), an ILO supported organisation.

Speaking at a state level Workshop on 'HIV/AIDS: Risk and Vulnerability of Industry in Karnataka' the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI) President S S Patil said that a consortium consisting PSI, ILO, FICCI and YRG Care Chennai and the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust and the University of Manitoba, Canada was formed to execute the programme.

He said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has given an initial fund of Rs Five crore for this year and subsequently the consortium would raise resources through its industry partners with matching grants from USAID for the Project.

He said that as many as 36 companies in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have enrolled for the project under which staff of industrial units would be provided training and education on HIV/AIDS related issues, including prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. "The industries should be encouraged to adopt an HIV/AIDS policy for their work force and to have linkages with health centres and NGO's to educate their labour to take preventive measures" he added.

UNI