Rally, conventions to mark World AIDS Week

A rally to create awareness about HIV/ AIDS would be held in Pune city and conventions would be held across the district to mark World AIDS Week between December 1-7.

This was announced to media persons by the district AIDS programme officer, Dr BR Shende, and district civil surgeon, Dr Mahendra Nagare, in the city on Friday.

Maharashtra has reported 98,697 AIDS cases with 7,263 deaths between August 1986 and September 2010.

According to Nagare, the rally would see the participation of college students, health department officials, activists from various NGOs working in the health sector and leaders from various fields participate in this rally.

Nagare said to mark World AIDS Week, college students would be given oath during the convention. He said five rallies and conventions would be held at primary health centres in the district. According to Nagare, besides talks by experts in the field, HIV-positive persons would also address the youth so that misconceptions can be removed.