World AIDS Day observed at AIIMS Bhubaneswar: Rolled out slew of sensitizing programs for stakeholders

Bhubaneswar, Dec 1: World AIDS day has been observed in All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. AIIMS authorities have rolled out a slew of sensitizing programs for the stakeholders during the occasion working out on the theme “End inequalities, End AIDS”, this year. AIIMS Director, Doctor Gitanjali Batmanabane inaugurated the function organised at the institution in the morning. During the occasion, Doctor Batmanabane said, “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”.  {"id":150953,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} Associate Professor Department of Community Medicine and the In-Charge of the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) Centre of AIIMS Bhubaneswar said, as many as 17966 people were tested for HIV at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Out of which 40 have been tested HIV Positive. It indicates a downward trend, which means awareness among people over AIDS is increasing day by day. Only public awareness can fight the incurable disease to keep it away from the society, he added. Working out on the theme “End inequalities, End AIDS”, Department of Community Medicine, Family Medicine and the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) of AIIMS Bhubaneswar organized various activities to raise awareness regarding HIV/AIDS. {"id":150954,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"}  Patients coming to AIIMS were provided information at a specially designated HIV Information and Counselling Desk. 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. Apart from it, the 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 undertook voluntary screening of the migrant population in MangalJodi village to address the high risk of HIV among them. Subsequently, resource persons and experts provided health education to the villagers. AIIMS, Medical Superintendent Prof. Doctor SN Mohanty, DDA PK Ray, Doctor PR Tripathy with others focused light on the fatal disease and appealed one and all to keep it at bay.