Mangaluru: “Instead of neglecting HIV+ patients, one should instil confidence in them to lead a dignified life,” informed Principal District and Sessions Judge Kadluru Sathyanarayanacharya on Friday, December 6.
He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the “World AIDS Day – 2019” programme organised by the district administration and the health department at Fr Muller Medical College auditorium. He said, “One needs to distance themselves from unethical lifestyle and not from HIV infected people. HIV infected patients need love and care. The patients should be able to come out of their inferiority complex, self-pity and send a strong message to the society that they too can lead a normal life.”
Father Muller Charitable Institution Director Dr Richard Aloysius Coelho while presiding over the programme said that individuals should protect themselves and others from conditions like AIDS. He stressed that morality is very essential in this regard.
Delivering a special talk on the occasion, senior resident medical officer of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Fr Muller Hospital, Dr Abhilash V said that there were 21.17 lakh HIV infected people in 2018. The World Health Organisation’s target is to achieve 90-90-90. This means that 90 percent of HIV infected should know their status, 90 percent of the infected should avail treatment and 90 percent of the infected should witness viral suppression,” he elaborated.
Prior to this programme, a rally was taken out from Shanti Nilaya Grounds in Balmatta to Fr Muller Hospital Kankanady.
Principal Civil Judge A G Gangadhar, Wenlock Hospital Blood Bank medical officer Dr Sharath, Fr Muller Medical College and Hospital managing director Rudolf Ravi D’Sa, Fr Muller College managing director Fr Ajith Menezes, district health officer Dr M Ramakrishna Rao among others were present.
