Send an SMS to scotch doubts on AIDS!

Chennai, Mar 20 (UNI) The much-used cell phone facility -SMS- would now offer a personal link where one can send messages to a doctor to clarify doubts on the deadly HIV/AIDS.

The 'Specific Query Response' (SQR) introduced by the Heroes Project, an NGO, has pitched in to help people who fight shy to ask questions openly on AIDS-related issues. If you have grown curious to know more about the killer disease just send an SMS to 7827 and there will be a trained medical counsellor to respond, a release said here.

The initiative titled 'Ask Any Question on HIV/AIDS' will have more privacy as one need not reveal ignorance on the matter to a doctor/counsellor sitting right in front. Moreover, as it is SMS, even voice identification cannot be done. God forbid, even if you are a patient, this 'remote counselling' will have a soothing effect.

The SQR is designed to meet the specific requirements of every SMS sender and a reply will blink on the mobile screen within 24 hours. This Public Service Announcement is being aired on 'Star' channels and is also supported by media portals -- agencyfaqs.com, indiantelevision.com and exchange4media.com.

The 'Hero Project' is a national initiative, through mass media application, to reduce the stigma and discrimination an HIV-infected person is prone to face.

UNI