AIDS awareness drive to focus on migrants

The Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (UPSACS) plans to pay special attention to migrant workers,the group most vulnerable to HIV infection,in its campaign to spread awareness about the disease.

A number of proposals have been sent by the society as part of its annual action plan. UPSACS officials said there are three points in the state from where migrants go to other states in search of work – Lucknow,Allahabad and Gorakhpur. The society has already initiated awareness booths at the railway stations at these places. The booths,functioning since last October,provide information about HIV/AIDS.

In the coming financial year,the society has proposed other kinds of intervention for the high-risk population at these points.

“Various data of HIV/AIDS from the state support that migrant workers are the most vulnerable high-risk group that brings HIV infection back to their family. Hence we are targeting them,particularly this year,with the aim of making them aware of the risks they can be exposed to when they are away from home,” said Ramesh Menon,Project Director,State Mainstreaming Unit,UPSACS.