Lucknow: On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the Department of Community Medicine at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) organised a public awareness programme. The event was held at the Urban Health and Training Centre (UHTC) in Ujariyawan.
The programme featured a street play and an interactive discussion led by specialist doctors from the institute, aimed at educating people about HIV/AIDS prevention.
Head of the Community Medicine Department, Dr. S.D. Kandpal, informed that due to the efforts of the National AIDS Control Programme run by the Government of India, the number of HIV-positive individuals in the country has significantly reduced compared to 2010.
He said the prevalence of HIV in India is approximately 0.2%, while in Uttar Pradesh it stands at 0.1%. He also highlighted the theme of World AIDS Day 2025 — “Overcoming Inequalities and Transforming the AIDS Response.”
Institute Director, Prof. C.M. Singh, discussed various aspects of AIDS and emphasized that awareness is the strongest tool for prevention. He said the Community Medicine Department has been conducting door-to-door awareness activities to educate the public about HIV/AIDS.
As part of the programme, MBBS students from the 2023 batch enacted a street play demonstrating the four primary ways HIV can spread from an infected person to a healthy individual:
- Through unprotected sexual contact
- Through transfusion of HIV-infected blood
- Through infected needles
- From an infected mother to her unborn child
The play also highlighted that early testing and timely initiation of ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) at the nearest government hospital can help HIV-positive individuals lead a healthy life. All HIV-related tests and medicines are available free of cost at ART centres.
The event was conducted by Dr. Piyush Kariwala, Additional Professor, Community Medicine, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Additional Professor Dr. Rashmi Kumari.
Residents of the Ujariyawan slum actively participated in the programme, along with faculty members, senior and junior residents, MBBS students, interns, social workers, and support staff from the Community Medicine Department.
