AIDS Spreading Its tentacles in rural areas
Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 13: With the detection of increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases from rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the government has decided to involve cultural organisations and theater groups to reach out to ruralities and create awareness among them about the preventive measures against the deadly virus.
According to the officials, the State AIDS Control Society has invited youth clubs and NGOs to start awareness campaigns about the deadly disease and provide consultancy services to the rural population, who are mostly unaware about the threat.
Sources said that the step has been taken after the health officials conveyed the alarming situation after the detection of some cases in far-flung areas from where the people work as labourers or drivers in different parts of the country.
“Although we have been listed among the topper states in launching a successful campaign against the AIDS, but so far it has remained concentrated to cities and a few towns with the rural areas receiving less attention”, said an official.
As per the records, there are 1800 full blown AIDS cases registered with the society, but their number could be in thousands as many affected persons are unaware about the infection.
Each event will be of three hours duration comprising of folk songs on AIDS awareness followed by a drama, skit and a lecture- interaction by a doctor or a counscellor attached with each group. The selected groups will be paid Rs 3000 on account of performance for each programme at village, block and tehsil levels.
“The aim of these performances is to disseminate information to the rural population through folk media about the disease which possesses a serious threat to society. For rural population seminars and debates have little meaning”, said an official from the society.
Director, AIDS Control Society, Dr. Wasim Qureshi said that though the state falls in low prevalence zone but many full blown cases have been detected in the state.
“Our main worry is the people who don’t come forward and they have to be identified so that medical help could be provided to them”.
Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 13: With the detection of increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases from rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the government has decided to involve cultural organisations and theater groups to reach out to ruralities and create awareness among them about the preventive measures against the deadly virus.
According to the officials, the State AIDS Control Society has invited youth clubs and NGOs to start awareness campaigns about the deadly disease and provide consultancy services to the rural population, who are mostly unaware about the threat.
Sources said that the step has been taken after the health officials conveyed the alarming situation after the detection of some cases in far-flung areas from where the people work as labourers or drivers in different parts of the country.
“Although we have been listed among the topper states in launching a successful campaign against the AIDS, but so far it has remained concentrated to cities and a few towns with the rural areas receiving less attention”, said an official.
As per the records, there are 1800 full blown AIDS cases registered with the society, but their number could be in thousands as many affected persons are unaware about the infection.
Each event will be of three hours duration comprising of folk songs on AIDS awareness followed by a drama, skit and a lecture- interaction by a doctor or a counscellor attached with each group. The selected groups will be paid Rs 3000 on account of performance for each programme at village, block and tehsil levels.
“The aim of these performances is to disseminate information to the rural population through folk media about the disease which possesses a serious threat to society. For rural population seminars and debates have little meaning”, said an official from the society.
Director, AIDS Control Society, Dr. Wasim Qureshi said that though the state falls in low prevalence zone but many full blown cases have been detected in the state.
“Our main worry is the people who don’t come forward and they have to be identified so that medical help could be provided to them”.
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