Mysore/Mysuru: Co-operation of public is vital for those who have contracted AIDS to avail timely treatment and the public should not look at them in a different way, opined Senior Civil Judge and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Member-Secretary Devaraj Bhoote.

He was speaking after inaugurating World AIDS Day, organised by the District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, District Health and Family Welfare Department, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Bengaluru, District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit, District Legal Services Authority, St. Philomena’s First Grade College, Ashodaya Samithi and other organisations at St. Philomena’s College auditorium here this morning.

Devaraj Bhoote said the need of the hour was to create awareness on AIDS just like how the Health Department created awareness on COVID-19. Though lakhs of people suffered from COVID, awareness created by the Health Department helped lakhs of people to take precautions which eventually kept COVID at bay. “In the same manner, the Health officials and staff are working day and night to control HIV/AIDS,” he added.

Pointing out that those who have contracted AIDS think that they would get a bad name if they disclose it to medical fraternity, the senior Judge said that disclosing the disease to medical fraternity will only help them get timely treatment and added that such negative thoughts and feelings should be removed from their minds. District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. K.H. Prasad, District Health and Family Welfare Services Divisional Associate Director Dr. M.R. Udaykumar, District AIDS Control Officer Dr. Mohammed Shiraz Ahmed, K.R. Hospital Blood Bank Senior Medical Officer Dr. S. Manjunath, St. Philomena’s College Vice-Rector Fr. Maria Xavier, Asha Kirana Hospital Medical Officer Dr. V.H.T. Swamy and others were present on the occasion.