Mysuru: Students of various colleges in Mysuru took part in the 5K Run organised by District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit as part of AIDS Awareness Month programme in city recently.

The Run, which was flagged off by Reproductive and Child Health Officer (RCHO) Dr. Mohammed Siraz Ahmed at the Government First Grade College for Girls in Vijayanagar, passed through Outer Ring Road and surrounding areas, before culminating at the starting point.

In both men’s and women’s category, a cash prize of Rs. 5,000, Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 2,500 was awarded to the first, second and third place winners respectively. Prize winners are as follows: Men: 1st prize – R. Purushotham; 2nd – Prasanna Kumar and 3rd – S. Ramesh; Women: 1st – Ashiwini, 2nd – H. Arpitha and 3rd – S. Monica.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Dr. Siraz Ahmed said that the event was being organised to create awareness among the younger generation regarding the need to prevent the spread of AIDS.

Stating that there was no permanent cure for AIDS, he said that once infected, the disease can only be controlled through medicines. He also called upon people with symptoms to get medically checked and added that the Government was also providing free treatment to those infected.