Mangaluru: Taking a lead in creating awareness about testing for HIV on World AIDS Day, A J Hospital and Research Centre (AJHRC) organised a “One Ribbon, One Message” initiative to eradicate AIDS by the year 2030. Observing World AIDS Day on 1 December, AJHRC conducted free blood tests in their campus as a part of AIDS awareness campaign.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has been spreading rampantly around the planet in the past few years. Looking at it from a wider angle, the doctors at AJHRC believe that awareness about this deadly disease is the only way to prevention and cure. “World Health Organization, the medical wing of United Nations Organization has set a target at the year 2030 to completely end the vicious cycle of AIDS. AJHRC is working towards the same goal by conducting tests in this regard”, said S Jayaram, the Medical Superintendent of AJ Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AJIMS&RC).
On a special note, AIDS awareness will be created all over the hospital campus by having health talks in five languages (Kannada, Tulu, Malayalam, Hindi and English) at regular intervals through the central announcing system. In order to create a personal awareness campaign, hospital attendants, nurses and doctors wore a red ribbon on their shirts.
Speaking about AIDS prevention, AJIMS&RC Dean, Dr. Ashok Hegde said that there should be no hesitation among the people to test for HIV since it could lead to bigger problems eventually. “There is a common misconception that AIDS can pass on to others through mosquito bites or showing affection by hugging or kissing which has led to ostracism of AIDS patients completely. As a matter of fact, AIDS can be acquired only through blood transfusions, unprotected and unnatural sex. Disseminating knowledge to the people is very important at this stage”, Dr. Ashok said.
In favour of the cause, participants of “One Ribbon, One Message” campaign released red helium balloons with an AIDS awareness banner into the sky and raised their hands at AJ Research Centre campus in support of HIV prevention.
