World AIDS Day observed in city

The city observed World AIDS Day through various events.

On Monday, FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), in collaboration with the State AIDS Control Society and some corporate houses, launched an empowerment programme for women, including those living with HIV/AIDS.

Jyotsna Kaur Habibullah of FLO Lucknow-Kanpur said, “The initiative aims to train women from deprived sections of society and help them find jobs and get placed.”

She further said, “From tailoring to driving, all sorts of vocational training will be provided to these women to help them find a livelihood.”

On Tuesday, a quiz was organised at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) to mark World AIDS Day. Students participated in large numbers in the event that was also open to people living with HIV/AIDS. Rohit Raj bagged the first prize, while Yogesh Kumar came in second. The third place was jointly claimed by Aishwarya and Ritu.

An informative lecture was organised at the Kalam Centre in KGMU campus, in which experts shared their views on the subject, informed nodal officer Dr D Himanshu. The department of transfusion medicine at the medical university organised a voluntary blood donation camp, in which the staff participated enthusiastically. The blood donated was provided to the needy patients at KGMU.

Talking about the benefits of blood donation, Dr Tulika Chandra, HoD transfusion medicine said, “The aim of the camp was to spread the message that by donating blood a donor not only saves someone else’s life but also ensures that his own blood gets screened for infections such as HIV and hepatitis. The donor can get to know the status of his own blood, free of charge, as every unit is first screened for all types of infections before being given to a patient.”