New Miss Universe in India as AIDS Awareness ambassador

Chennai, Oct 31 (UNI) Newly crowned Miss Universe, Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto who is on AIDS awareness tour since being crowned in July this year, today said she wanted to tell people that AIDS was a very serious issue and everybody must get tested for it.

Addressing a press conference here along with New York based fashion designer and Anti AIDS campaigner, Sanjana Jon, the 18 year-old Zuleyka said AIDS or HIV patients must know that the world has technologically advanced so much that a HIV positive person can live a normal life for many years.

''Life is a very important gift. We have to value it. Value it in terms of family which you have and all the people around you'', the 5'9'' Zuleyka said.

''Unless I get myself tested, I don't know I am HIV positve'', she said adding, she had taken the test in New York. I am happy I don't have the disease'', Zuleyka who is an aspiring actress said.

We have to know that life is not over if one is afflicted with HIV or AIDS, she said.

As the new Miss Universe, it is now my turn to be part of AIDS International programme, Zuleyka said.

According to The National Intelligence Committee of USA, there will be 20-25 million HIV positive people in India by 2010. Last year teh National AIDs Control Organisation(NACO) estimated that about 5.134 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in India. Productive workforce between the ages of 15-44 was themost affected, comprising 87.7 per cent of the HIV infections in India.

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