Mysore/Mysuru: K.R. MLA S.A. Ramdas, who is attending the ongoing winter session of the State Legislature at Belagavi, took time off on Wednesday and visited the ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) Centre at Belagavi.

Interacting with the doctors and hospital staff there, Ramdas and other participants stressed on the need for sensitising and enlightening the people on the dangers of getting infected with AIDS.

Pointing out that the positivity rate for the HIV virus is 0.27 percent in children, they opined  that measures should be taken to bring it down to Zero-level.

Observing that unprotected  and unsafe sex is the culprit for the spread of the dangerous HIV virus, the meeting bemoaned that women take to sex work, even though they are contracted with the AIDS virus as they find no other means of earning or jobs to take up.

Opining that sex workers too need a pension scheme just like the other needy sections of the society, it was decided that the matter should be taken up with the Chief Minister.

Emphasising on the need for providing nutritious food to malnourished or undernourished children, they said that every one should join hands in the fight against malnutrition.

Observing that NGOs and the society too should take responsibility for preventing women and children from falling into the trap of AIDS, Ramdas and others opined that laws should be framed for preventing youths from getting addicted to MSM, drugs, alcohol and such other bad habits.

Pointing out more and more MSM are treading the wrong path, they said that a survey conducted in 40 schools has found that their numbers is increasing.

Noting that financial assistance on the lines of the one in Maharashtra will help the children in their livelihood, they said that the Maharashtra model also facilitates education of such children upto a certain level.

Maintaining that Governments have the responsibility of bringing such children to the mainstream society, the meeting deliberated on taking a pledge for ensuring that no children gets infected by the deadly virus in the next 10 years.

Ramdas and the participants  further said that a joint meeting of all concerned Departments such as Education, Women and Child, Health and Police will largely help in evolving strategies for tackling the deadly AIDS virus and a report in this regard should be submitted to the Chief Minister.

Belagavi District Surgeon Dr. Sudhakar, RMO Dr. Keshav, HIV Counsellor Rathna, Dr. Veeresh, MSM Representative Ganesh, Kasturi of Spandana Network and other staff of ART Centre were present.