2,911 people living with AIDS in UP

Lucknow, Dec 1 (UNI) At least 2,911 people are infected with AIDS in Uttar Pradesh, while over 15,000 have so far been detected as HIV positive.

In a message marking the World AIDS Day, Principal Secretary of the State Health and Family Welfare Department Arun Kumar Mishra here said eradicating AIDS has remained one of the world's most pressing public health challenge as prevention and treatment programmes usually fail to reach high-risk groups like drug users and sex workers.

''People at risk do not always know how to protect themselves and often lack access to condoms, clean needles and syringes. Some people are also not ready to believe that they are at risk.'' Mr Mishra lamented.

''It is high time all government departments and NGOs unite and fight against AIDS. At present, 2,911 people are living with the fatal disease, while 15,000 HIV positive cases have been identified in the state,'' Mr Mishra claimed.

Exhorting people to take part in AIDS awareness programmes in villages he said ''the only solution prevention.

According to a survey conducted by the National Health and Family Welfare Department, at present only 40 per cent women are aware of the disease.

In UP, the number of AIDS cases are low as compared to other states in the country.

He further stressed on the need for subsidising HIV/AIDS medicines to make it affordable to the poor.

Expressing concern over the social ostracis ation which patients face he said their is an urgent need to prevent this stigma tisation.

UNI ATI KN MQA RN2007