Motorbike rally for AIDS awareness in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Aug. 8 (ANI): Over 25 enthusiasts from different walks of life are participating in a motorbike rally to public awareness about AIDS among college students of Tamil Nadu.

The rally called 'Metal Men' kicked off from Chennai on Saturday. It will cover a distance of 1500 kilometres and try to reach out to 34,000 students and 16 colleges across seven districts in four days.

"As a part of the awareness creation among college going students and the young people - the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society and the Government of Tamil Nadu have panned several activities. One of the activities is that people, especially the students, have to reach at their places with proper and positive message," said Shambhu Kallolikar, official of the Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society.

"As we are starting today, we will be covering 16 colleges across seven districts starting on from Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Trichy Madurai, Tirunelveli, (going to) Kanyakumari, over a period of time. We will be covering 16 colleges and 34,000 students," said Vinay Kurella, leader of the motorbike rally.

According to United Nations, India has 5.7 million people affected by HIV or AIDS.

The state-run National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), which spearheads the country's fight against the deadly HIV virus, estimates 5.2 million cases.

The transgender are among the most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS nfection due to lack of proper awareness. By Jaikumar (ANI)