The Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society launched a 27-day HIV/AIDS awareness programme on Tuesday in association with the HLL Lifecare Limited. A function including skits and cultural performances was organised to promote awareness among the truck drivers. Senior Superintendent of Police SS Srivastva, who was the chief guest on the occasion, flagged off a condom awareness van which will move around in the city for 27 days and distribute free condoms to the public. Dr Vanita Gupta, project director, SACS, Chandigarh, said truck drivers were the vulnerable to contracting the deadly disease since they stay away from their homes for a longer time periods. “Sex is a biological need and some of them happen to fulfil it when they indulge in unsafe sex with HIV infected sex workers. It is, therefore, necessary that they know about safe sex,” she said. Gupta said that there were 8,000 HIV affected persons in Chandigarh and about half of them have full blown AIDS, indicating at the efforts to reduce the rate of infections even though she said that it had stabilised. SSP Srivastva also praised the society for holding the function at a place where it mattered the most rather than holding it at elsewhere.