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Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh, which holds the dubious distinction of having the second largest number of HIV/AIDS cases among the states in India, has launched an AIDS prevention and awareness programme in schools and colleges.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu formally inaugurated the campaign -- which is said to be the first of their kind in the country -- at a function to mark the World AIDS Day in Hyderabad on Sunday.
The programme is being taken up in 11,464 high schools to create awareness on HIV/AIDS among 1.3 million students enrolled in 9th and 10th classes. The college programme covers 500,000 students in 1,000 colleges under 13 universities through the active involvement of National Service Scheme.
Quoting UNAIDS reports, Naidu said 50 per cent of the new infections occurred in the in the age group of 15 to 24 years. He said out of the 42 million HIV/AIDS affected persons in the world, India accounted for four million cases, including 400,000 in Andhra Pradesh.
Thus, while India came second in the world after South Africa, Andhra Pradesh ranked second after Maharashtra within the country.
Naidu said the budgetary allocation for AIDS awareness and control programme has been raised to Rs 500 million. The central government has agreed to provide Rs 400 million to the state. He also welcomed Microsoft Corporation chairman Bill Gates for announcing a grant of 100 million dollars for tackling AIDS menace in India.
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