Karwar: Senior Civil Judge T Govindayya, on Friday, said HIV infected people too have equal rights to live and get medical facilities like all others in society.

Speaking after inaugurating World AIDS Day, jointly organised by District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, District Health & Family Welfare Department, Legal Services Authority, he said society should not look down upon HIV infected people. To make provision for HIV infected people, free legal help, suggestions, and counselling are being taken up at ART centers in all districts throughout the State, he added.

Advocate K B Naik said, HIV infection can spread in different ways. Hence, one should be careful about harmful diseases like AIDS.

One can lead healthy life through self-regulation, social values and morality. People should know both positive and negative aspects of anything before practising it accordingly, he added.

There is need for regular awareness programmes on HIV and AIDS. Everyone should strive to eradicate AIDS from society. One can take help from legal service authorities located from taluk level to national level, where they will get free legal advice, he said.

Delivering a special lecture on prevention of AIDS, Karwar Medical College community medicine department Professor Hemagiri said, efforts are ongoing to create awareness among people regarding life threatening diseases like AIDS. It is a matter of satisfaction that the rate of HIV is being controlled due to various aspects. However, it should be eliminated totally, he opined.

Mizoram State recorded high cases of HIV, whereas it was coming down in Karnataka, and State ranked 28th in this regard, he informed.

An awareness rally on prevention of AIDS was flagged off at deputy commissioner’s office.

Students of various schools and colleges participated in the procession.