Laying emphasis on this year’s theme ‘Getting to Zero,’ the government, organisations and educational institutions observed World AIDS Day on Monday.
‘Getting to Zero’ includes zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination against HIV positive persons and zero AIDS-related deaths.
The departments of Dermatology and Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, the Dermatologists association of Puducherry (Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists Puducherry branch) and the Red Ribbon Club of IGMCRI organised an AIDS awareness rally, which was flagged off by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. The rally comprised of students and faculty members of IGMCRI who distributed pamphlets on AIDS to the public. The rally culminated at the Rajiv Gandhi Square.
The IGMCRI had also organised a poster competition for the first year MBBS students on this year’s theme, ‘Getting to Zero.’
Other programmes at the institute included two skits by students to create awareness on the disease and to promote voluntary blood donation.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy also flagged off a mobile publicity van of the Pondicherry AIDS Control Society (PACS) under the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services.
The van plied the roads of Puducherry with messages on HIV/AIDS awareness. Vans have also been arranged in Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, according to a release by PACS.
The NGO, ‘Village Beneficiaries Education and Development Society,’ Karaikal was adjudged the best NGO for its work.
Winners of the drawing, essay and slogan writing competitions for school students were given prizes by Dr. K.V. Raman, Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare Services.
A students rally comprising NCC cadets and NSS volunteers was also flagged off from the Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital, Ellaipillaichavady.
A rally was also organised by the Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth comprising of students and staff from its colleges which was flagged off at the City Centre of the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institution on Thiruvalluvar Salai and proceeded through the streets of the town before finishing at Gandhi Thidal.
A skit to raise awareness on AIDS was performed by the students at Gandhi Thidal, with stalls to provide information to the public.
