Not to be published/broadcast  Before 21st Sept., 2009   

         Notwithstanding the threat of the dreaded diseases AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) assuming alarming proportions with the each passing day, the AIDS control society of Himachal Pradesh has geared up its campaign to spread awareness among the people through its multifarious programmes. 
     As on today there are 3,530 cases of HIV positive detected till March 2009  of which the fully blown cases of  AIDS are as many as 608.  In view of the ever increasing number of AIDS cases, the State AIDS Control Society has been striving hard to bring awareness among the people by launching various campaigns apart from providing medical treatment to the patients suffering from AIDS.
            A special campaign “Zindagi Zindabad” was launched in four districts in the State Viz. Hamirpur, Shimla, Kangra and Solan, under which 350 integrated performances of folk shows, quiz and video shows were organized. The society has pressed into service Mobile Publicity Vans to reach out to about 90,000 people at 350 places. 
         The State-wide Toll Free HIV/AIDS Helpline no 1219 has been quite useful for the people to seek information and counselling about the various AIDS Control Programme of the society being run throughout the State.  As many as 1825 calls were received during a period of four months, which were monitored through computerized technique in the month of March, 2009. 
          Red Ribbon Clubs are also gaining popularity in the State, especially in educational institutions throughout the State besides, Nodal   Youth Clubs and Youth Development Centres etc.  So far 166 such clubs have come up in colleges and 75 such clubs have been formed by various NGOs of youth.
          An Anti-Retroviral Therapy Centre (ART) is functioning in the State Hospital IGMC Shimla, where 591 patients are undergoing treatment.  Two more ART Centres have been opened in Hamirpur and Medical College Tanda.  Shortly, four link ART Centres will be established at Mandi, Shimla, Bilaspur and Una also. 
          The horrible State of Children of HIV Positive and AIDS patients have been major cause of concern for the State Governments and Societies as well and effective steps are afoot to provide succour to them. 
          As many as 683 children up to the age of 15 years of AIDS victims were benefited through financial assistance of Rs 30, 75,900 provided for their education in addition to other living requirements.  Apart from this a sum of Rs. 7, 25,032 has been disbursed as travel costs to the patients visiting ART centres for treatment from different parts of the State. 
          Himachal Pradesh has earned appreciation from World Bank for implementing the various schemes under National Aids Control Programme.  Although HIV prevalence in Himachal Pradesh is considered to be low as compared to other states, the State Government has adopted a vigorous approach to the dreaded disease of AIDS in accordance with the guidelines of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).  The observation of a World Bank team says that the State of Himachal Pradesh has established a system for grievance rederssal of AIDS patients in an effective manner.
            The establishment of State AIDS Policy and the institutionalization of legal aid in AIDS Control Scheme (SACS) will provide a sound basis to address such matter in a strong and systematic way is one of another observation made by Word Bank.