The Hindu Business Line : Be Bold: AP's AIDS awareness mantra

Andhra Pradesh, which has the dubious distinction of having the maximum number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country, has launched a major campaign called `Be Bold', appealing to people to voluntarily come forward to get tested for the disease.

Besides, it launched a slew of publicity initiatives in a bid to spread the word - beware of unprotected sex. It also included a condom promotion programme.

Kicking off the `Be Bold' initiative here on Friday, Mr K.Rosaiah, State Minister for Health and Finance, and Mr Swaranjit Sen, Director General of Police, gave their blood samples for HIV/AIDS test.

The real push had come from the DGP, when he announced that the police department would take the lead in this initiative. Besides supporting the civil society initiatives in fighting the disease, the police themselves would get tough with unscrupulous elements that promoted human trafficking.

ANTI-TRAFFICKING TEAMS

"We will form special anti-trafficking teams in all the problem areas to bring the culprits to justice. We will cut off the source points. Also, we will open history-sheets against those who promote trafficking," he said.

He said 43 lakh people got affected with HIV/AIDS every year world over and the number was growing quite rapidly.

Mr Michel Saint Lot, State representative of UNICEF, asked the State Governments to have a comprehensive policy for integrated child protection. It should cover street children, domestic child labour and all children that are subjected to abuse.

Ms Swapna, Vice-President of a network that comprised persons with HIV positives, said the network was trying hard to convey the message that people should come out boldly on the issue. "Our aim is to check the spread of the disease. We are suffering. We would like to see that others should not suffer," she said.

More Stories on : Health | Andhra Pradesh

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