On International Youth Day Students Take a Pledge Healthy Habits, Safe Sexual Practices & Shun Drug Abuse

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh/Mohali 12^th August:-International Youth day was celebrated today in the Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector 11 Chandigarh, to acknowledge the crucial role that Young People play in the global response to HIV/AIDS to ensure control of spread of this disease. The main aim of the event was to sensitize Young Men and Women to have the vision of Zero New HIV Infection, Zero Discrimination due to HIV and Zero AIDS related Deaths. More than 500 college students attended the programme. To make youth more aware about this disease 3 skits were presented by PG Govt. College for Girls-11, PG Govt. College for Boys-11 and Govt. College for Girls-42. These skits clearly conveyed the message on modes of prevention of HIV/AIDS

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Rajiv Vadehra, Director Health Services, Chandigarh, Kartar Cheema, a renowned Punjabi actor was the Guest of Honor.. The students pledged an Oath which was led by Kartar Cheema, to inculcate healthy habits, safe sexual practices and shun drug abuse.

Dr. Vanita Gupta, Project Director, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society, shared the data which indicates that the awareness about HIV/AIDS and its modes of transmission has increased amongst the youth in Chandigarh. More people are getting themselves tested for HIV and the prevalence of the infection is decreasing. Amongst the age group of 15-20 years, 2042 males and 1227 females had got voluntarily tested in 2008 and the prevalence of infection was 3.1%, whereas in 2012, increased awareness, in this age group, had motivated 6160 males and 3051 females to get themselves tested and only 0.8% were found infected. The age group 25-34 years, although showing more infectivity, is also reflecting a steady, declining trend of the infection. 3 times more number of youth in this age group have got tested in 2012 as against that in 2008 and the percentage of infection is now 1.9%. It must be stressed that the prevalence of HIV infection in Chandigarh is less than the National Prevalence and is now only 0.23%. It is well-known that the youth are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. The age group of 14-34 are the group most affected by HIV/AIDS and account for 40% of all Adult HIV infections. The spread of the disease in this age group is through unsafe sexual habits and drug abuse.She added that to reach the goal of zero new infection, such awareness programmes for the vulnerable section of society will be continued by Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society.