The World AIDS Day was observed by the Paradip Port on Saturday beginning with a road rally and an awareness programme being flagged off from the PPT Hospital by Paradip Ladies’ Club president Subhalaxmi Roy.
The rally comprising denizens of Paradip, local school children, CISF personnel, transgenders, Paradip Sakshyrata Samiti volunteers culminated at the PPT Administrative Building, where meeting was held with Subhalaxmi Roy as chief guest and PPT Secretary UR Mohan Raju, FA & CAO SK Sahu, Deputy Conservator AK Mohapatra and PPT Hospital CMO Dr P Panda as other guests. Dr Panda explained the causes, symptoms and preventive measures to control the HIV.
The Paradip Sakshyrata Samiti (PSS) had joined hands with local NGOs IRDMS and CIST to observe the day with this year’s theme “Know Your Status”. PSS deputy chairman Shusil Chandra Nahak gave the welcome speech. Pravat Kumar Das, Manger, Corp. Legal, PPT, and Ashok Mohapatra from PSS coordinated the event. Prizes were awarded to the winners of debate competitions held among local schoolchildren on the occasion by Subhalaxmi Roy. Free HIV tests for truck drivers and helpers were undertaken by the PPT Hospital at the port’s Gate No. 3.