Mangalore, September 15: As per the directions of Project Director of Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society, a program was organised with the objective of educating the inmates of jail about HIV/AIDS.
District AIDS Prevention Officer Dr Kishor Kumar M, addressed the audience at the programme on HIV/AIDS, organised by the department of prisons in association with KSAPS, at district prison here on September 14th said, all HIV positive people are not AIDS patients and the HIV patients can lead a happy life, with medication and control. Dr Kishor further said that AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection when the infected person develops zero resistance power. At a point of time, the immunity of a HIV infected person will decrease all of a sudden and it may take eight to 10 years for HIV to damage the immune system. The detection of HIV could be done only after six months of being infected.
Among the HIV cases, 90 per cent are due to unprotected sex, blood transfusion from infected person, using the unsterilized syringes, from pregnant mother to child.
He said that, when it comes to unprotected sex; it is not only through male to female contact but also through male to male contact which has high danger levels of HIV infection through anal sex and oral sex. Sex workers, migrants, homosexuals, drug addicts and truck /lorry drivers are most vulnerable to HIV infection. HIV is on rise among youth as they experiment with unprotected sex, after they watch the internet and so on.
Dr Kishor said, if fever, diarrhoea, skin diseases and mouth ulcers persist for months, it is better to get the HIV test done and added that 60 per cent of HIV patients are prone to TB.
B Suresh, the District Prison Superintendent said that compared to the past, there is good awareness on HIV /AIDS. But during these days, HIV is spreading fast among youth. He added that with the coordination of health department, HIV tests will be conducted for jail inmates in future. during a brief interaction, the officials clarified the queries.
