Show tolerance towards HIV-infected
Collector B Lakshmikantham said that people should be sympathetic towards AIDS patients. He flagged off the candlelight memorial walk at the sub-collector’s office here on Sunday.
Vijayawada: Collector B Lakshmikantham said that people should be sympathetic towards AIDS patients. He flagged off the candlelight memorial walk at the sub-collector’s office here on Sunday.
The walk was organised to mark the 35th International Candle Memorial, which began in 1983 in memory of the AIDS/HIV victims. Several hundred AIDS patients, representatives of NGOs, officials from the medical and health department participated in the memorial walk.
Later, addressing the gathering, the Collector said International Candlelight Memorial Walk is conducted in 115 countries every year on the third Sunday of May in memory of the HiV/AIDS victims.
He said the perception of people about the HIV/AIDS patients changed over the years and added that social stigma is declining over the years. The Collector said the district administration is implementing welfare schemes for the HIV patients and according priority in sanction of loans, houses and pensions.
He said awareness is conducted on the HIV/AIDS in the district with wall paintings, posters and conducting cultural programmes with the artistes. Joint Collector P Baburao and other officials participated in the walk on MG Road. The officials took pledge not to show social stigma against the HIV patients and should be sympathetic to them.
