Ranchi, Dec 1 (IANS) Thousands of school children, NCC cadets and others ran in this Jharkhand capital Wednesday to raise awareness on AIDS, which NGOs claim has infected over 20,000 people in the state.
‘Run for World AIDS Day’, organised by the Jharkhand AIDS Control Society (JACS), began at the Albert Ekka roundabout and concluded at the Jaipal Singh Stadium here.
According to a JACS official, the total number of AIDS patients in the state was 7,295. Ranchi tops with 2,339 AIDS patients, followed by Hazaribagh with 1,757.
However, NGOs working in the state claim there were more than 20,000 AIDS patients in Jharkhand.
‘Of the total infected patients, 60 percent are males. Around 150 children aged between 15 months and 15 years are suffering from AIDS,’ JACS director Aradhana Patnaik told reporters here.
‘We will observe Dec 1 to 15 as AIDS fortnight. We will organise roadside shows in different places like railway stations and colleges to create awareness on AIDS,’ she said.
