Bhubaneswar: Dec 03: Students and faculty members took out a rally at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, the faculty of medical sciences of the SOA University, to spread awareness among the people on the scourge of HIV on World AIDS Day on Thursday.The event was organized by the Department of Community Medicine of IMS and SUM Hospital with technical support from the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM). The focus was on the theme ‘Hands Up for HIV Prevention’, decided by the WHO for this year’s World AIDS Day event, with the thrust on ongoing activities for HIV prevention.
Competitions including essay and slogan writing besides poster designing on HIV/AIDS awareness were conducted among students of the institute. A program under Continuing Medical Education (CME) was conducted during the day at the hospital where the winners of various competitions were awarded. The Dean of IMS and SUM Hospital, Prof. Gangadhar Sahu, the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Pushparaj Samantasinhar, Head of department of Community Medicine, Dr. Trilochan Sahu and Associate Professor, Dr. E.Venkat Rao attended the program.
A similar program was also organized at the Rural Health Centre set up by SOA University at Jamujhari, close to Bhubaneswar city, where people were explained about the dangers of HIV. A rally was taken out in the area in which students of the local high school participated and people were told about the routes through which HIV infection spread.The local Block Chairman, Mr. Sanjil Kumar Baliarsingh was the chief guest. Dr. Sandeep Kumar Panigrahi, Assistant Professor at the IMS and SUM Hospital, spoke to the students. Nursing students and interns also attended the event.
