A condom distribution kiosk was installed at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, to promote general awareness on HIV on Wednesday.
“We must continue to reach out and assist those who are not able to get treated, or tested for HIV. Unless all the people have access to services and information, AIDS will continue to take lives,” said AIIMS Bhubaneswar director Dr Gitanjali Batmanabane. She was speaking at a meeting on the occasion of World AIDS day that was observed on Wednesday.
Dr Sonu H Subba, head, department of community medicine, AIIMS, said: “The objective to install the kiosk is to disseminate the message of safe sex.”
Dr Arvind Kumar Singh, associate professor department of community medicine, AIIMS, said: “This year a total of 17,966 people were tested for HIV at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. ”
The theme of World AIDS day for this year was “End inequalities, End AIDS”. To take the reach of HIV awareness activities to peripheral areas, the rural centre of the AIIMS Bhubaneswar at Tangi did voluntary screening of the migrant population in Mangal Jodi village as migrants are at high risk of HIV and provided health education to all villagers.
