Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani on Tuesday called upon the non-Government organisations and voluntary organisations for proactive participation towards generating massive awareness amongst people regarding HIV-AIDS as this virus could be curbed with complete knowledge and awareness.
Jayani, addressing the health officers during a State-level function to mark the World AIDS Day, said that because of hi-tech research in the field of medical sciences, the HIV-AIDS is now curable but still it could be completely checked with knowledge and awareness regarding the disease.
Quoting statistics, the Minister said that in Punjab, merely 37,000 people suffer from AIDS as against the huge number of 20.80 lakh people in India. He laid more emphasis on cautioning people against ill-effects of AIDS in order to reduce the number of AIDS victims.
He called upon not only general public but each and everybody in the State to launch an organised well-conceived drive against HIV-AIDS so that it could be completely wiped out from the State.
The Minister said that the State Government has established special clinics and counselling centres in all State Government hospitals and colleges providing free diagnostic tests, treatment and guidance to people. “The privacy of the patient is also maintained in these centres,” he said.
Jayani asked the people to adopt healthy and disciplined lifestyle. Earlier, he also inspected hi-tech mobile van and mobile blood donation van especially created by the Punjab AIDS Control Society.