Bhubaneswar: This year a total of 17966 people were tested for HIV at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Out of which 40 have been tested HIV Positive. This is showing a downward trend which means awarness among people over AIDS is increasing day by day, said Dr Arvind Kumar Singh, Associate Professor Department of Community Medicine and in charge of ICTC Centre, AIIMS Bhubaneswar. World AIDS Day observed today at All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) Bhubaneswar. The theme of World AIDS day for this year was “End inequalities, End AIDS”. On this occasion, the Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine and Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre of AIIMS Bhubaneswar organized various activities to raise awareness regarding HIV/AIDS. Patients coming to AIIMS were provided information at a specially designated HIV Information and Counselling Desk. Public talk was also organized on this occasion.
General public visiting AIIMS were offered voluntary free testing and a condom distribution kiosk was opened to promote the public to know their HIV status and to disseminate the message of safe sex, informed Dr Sonu H Subba, Head Department of Community Medicine, AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Similalry Department of Blood bank organized a blood donation camp on this occasion. To take the reach of HIV awareness activities to peripheral areas, the Rural Centre of AIIMS Bhubaneswar at Tangi did voluntary screening of Migrant population in Mangal Jodi village as migrants are at high risk of HIV and provided health education to all villagers.
We must continue to reach out and assist those who are not able to get treated, or tested for HIV. Unless all the people have access to services and information, AIDS will continue to take lives, said AIIMS Bhubaneswar Director Dr. Gitanjali Batmanabane. AIIMS Bhuabneswar Medical Superitendent Prof Dr. S N Mohanty, DDA Mr. P K Ray, Dr. P R Tripathy and others graced the occasion.
-OdishaAge
