Government moots anti-AIDS measures in 8 districts

 The State Government has identified eight districts where it plans to involve corporate houses to address the issues of HIV and AIDS. Mineral rich and industrial hubs, these districts have different sets of vulnerabilities to the dreaded infection which prompted the Health and Family Welfare Department to seek help of its Industries counterpart for a joint initiative.

The Health Department had asked the Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) to flag the major issues faced by the eight districts where mining and industrial activities are intensive leading to prevalence of high risk groups such as migrants, transporters, alcoholics and drug users.

In its report, the OSACS pointed out the concerned areas in each of the districts which included Angul, Jharsuguda, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Rayagada, Koraput and Jagatsinghpur. It also suggested that massive IEC campaigns, health camps, counselling-cum-therapy centres could be set up in the districts basing on their needs with support from the corporate social responsibility (CSR) wings of the industrial houses. Industries Department will hold a meet with the corporate houses so that an action plan can be charted out for giving the plan a working shape.

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