Transgenders conduct AIDS campaign in Coimbatore

Coimbatore, Jan 24 : A group of transgenders in Kinathukadavu village near Coimbatore have recently conducted a campaign through cultural programme to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS.

"We intend to make people aware about safe sex and ways to protect themselves from the disease. We also want to educate people about cancer, need to have a girl child, female education and infanticide," said Thenmozhi, a campaigner.

A large number of people thronged the roadside to watch this unique cultural programme.

"People have a lot of misconceptions about transgenders. But, now they have come up with the campaign. It is really nice and all of us should support their campaign," said Hussain, a spectator.

With the number of HIV and AIDS patients increasing each day in India, such awareness campaigns are a common feature in the country.

Although the Government has launched a nation-wide programme to educate the people about the disease, the stigma is still widely prevalent.

India has roughly 2.5 million people infected with HIV, less than half the number of cases that previous studies estimated.

An earlier U.N. study had estimated 5.7 million HIV cases, which would have been the highest total in the world.

But as per the latest available data, India, which has a population of 1.1 billion, has fewer HIV cases than South Africa and Nigeria.

ANI