Orissa launches campaign to prevent HIV transmission

Bhubaneswar, Aug 16 (UNI) A two-month long campaign has been launched in Orissa to generate demand for counselling and testing to prevent the transmission of HIV.

The campaign was also to provide the HIV positives an access to life saving care and treatment.

State Aids Cell Society (OSACS) Director Parmeswar Swain said the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre Campaign(ICTC),''Katha Rakhiba: AIDS Rokiba'', under the National Aids Control Programme-III was launched in the state yesterday.

The programme is to check the further spread of the disease in the country over the next five years.

As per the latest reports, about 3,92,423 people have been counselled of which 1,60,362 have done a blood test during 2002-07.

However, of them about 6706 persons were found HIV positive.

So far 888 were affected with AIDS and 671 people have died in the state.

Mr Swain said during the current fiscal, HIV counselling and Testing would be done round the clock in Public Health Centres in the HIV prone districts.

In first phase 53 PHCs would conduct the tests in coordination with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) by supplying HIV testing kits.

Besides, a door to door campaign had been launched in the state, especially in Ganjam district, where the number of HIV patients was high.

Mobile vans would be also launched in Ganjam, Khurda, Balasore, Sonepur districts for interpersonal and group communication to strengthen the mass media activity and minimise the stigma associated with the disease.

UNI