Saturday, 02 December 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
An awareness campaign was conducted by Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) Jolly Grant to mark World AIDS Day on Friday. The hospital administration claimed that a number of programmes were organised on the occasion to raise awareness about the sexually transmitted disease and to dispel the myths associated with it. As part of the observation of the day, the people who visited the Dermatology OPD were made aware about AIDS-its causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment.
Sharing details about the disease, the head of the dermatology department of the hospital, Dr Rashmi Jindal said that AIDS, caused by HIV virus, weakens the immunity of humans, adding that the disease spreads through unsafe sex, transfusion of HIV infected blood, use of infected needles during pregnancy and delivery of an HIV positive woman. Even by breastfeeding, the newborn baby could spread this infection, she warned.
The doctors, who addressed commemorative programmes, included Samarjit Roy. He said that due to AIDS, the patient suddenly starts losing weight. Besides, fever and diarrhoea might persist in the infected persons for a long time, multiple wounds might be found on the tongue and their glands might swell.
The department of Community Medicine of the facility also observed the day through hosting several programmes which were attended by the senior doctors of the department. Furthermore, the students went door-to-door, giving information about AIDS to the people and also distributed among them red ribbons.
