Date:18/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/18/stories/2006101810600400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

State to get $22 million for steps to prevent HIV/AIDS

Staff Reporter

1.6 per cent of the State's population is HIV positive

Bangalore: The State Government will get $22 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in December to implement programmes for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the State.

At the moment Karnataka is among the six high-prevalence States, and 1.6 per cent of the population is HIV positive. "We will use these funds to raise awareness about the disease and help in prevention for the next five years. We want to bring down the percentage to one per cent," Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok said here on Tuesday.

Inaugurating a programme to celebrate National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, organised by the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS), Mr. Ashok said that in the past six years, the State had taken many measures for prevention of the disease. The percentage of HIV/AIDS in the population had remained the same during the period.

Speaking on the need to promote blood donation, Mr. Ashok said the Government was in the process of setting up blood storage centres in all 175 taluks. "Already blood storage centres have been set up in 36 taluks," he said.

R.V. College of Engineering followed by P.E.S. Institute of Technology and Seshadripuram College were given awards for conducting the highest number of blood donation camps this year.

Blood banks honoured

Rotary TTK Blood Bank was honoured for collecting the highest number of units of blood, followed by Bangalore Lions Blood Bank and Victoria Hospital Blood Bank. In the government sector, Kidwai Institute of Oncology followed by K.R. Hospital, Mysore and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences collected highest number of units of blood.

`Blood' Kumar, who has donated blood 81 times, and his wife, Mangalam, and Adikeshav from Davangere were felicitated for conducting blood donation camps on their wedding and engagement days respectively and for promoting the blood donation movement.

Rally

Earlier in the day, a `Jana Jagruthi Jatha' (rally) to promote awareness on blood donation was flagged off by Mr. Ashok in front of the Vidhana Soudha. College students and members from voluntary organisations took part in the rally.