Youth should openly talk about HIV, says Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao

Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao has called upon the media to sensitise people on the deadly disease AIDS.

VIJAYAWADA:  Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao has called upon the media to sensitise people on the deadly disease AIDS. Participating as a chief guest at the awareness programme in connection with ‘World AIDS Day’ at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram here on Saturday, Devineni said a series of programmes were organised in the State which helped reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the last one decade. Stressing on the importance of creating awareness among the youth, he said that younger generations should break silence and speak openly about the deadly disease and how it spreads.

Informing about the measures being taken by the State government, the minister said that `1,000 was being provided as monthly pension to the victims of deadly disease under ‘NTR Bharosa Scheme’ in the State. He appealed to every individual to undergo medical tests and avail Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) medicines. Rao also suggested to the officials concerned to initiate necessary measures in making the third line medicines available at least for a week at Nuzvid, Ramachandrapuram, Bapatla, Siddhartha Medical College and government hospitals in Vijayawada. 

Director of Public Health and Family Welfare S Aruna Kumari informed that since July around 12,746 people in the State were examined with viral load and measures are being initiated to provide ART medicines for the HIV-infected people. She released the posters and pamphlets on AIDS.

Later, the Minister along with Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao participated in an oath-taking ceremony with people to eradicate the stigma about the disease and ensure proper treatment for the deadly disease. Medical Education director Dr Babji, NTR Vaidya Seva Trust CEO Dr Subba Rao, AIDS Control Society assistant programme director Dr Rajendra Prasad and others were present.

‘Steps being taken to support AIDS patients’

Guntur : District Collector Kona Sasidhar has said that the district administration was taking steps to ensure support to AIDS patients. The Collector, Guntur Rural SP SV Rajasekhara Babu along with DM&HO Dr J Yasmin interacted with 249 HIV-infected children on the occasion of World AIDS Day here on Saturday. They also distributed clothes and nutritious food to children. The collector said the Guntur Officers’ Association had opened a bank account to help the children affected by HIV/AIDS. He called upon the people to contribute liberally to bank account number 100710100047600, Andhra Bank, Medical College Branch, Guntur. 

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