HIV is on the increase among youth. Out of 35 lakh of people suffering from HIV, 30% are in the age group of 15 to 29 years and around 40% are women.

Ms. Sujatha Rao , director general of National Control Organization ( Naco), speaking on the occasion of the two day religious Hindu leaders’ group ‘Faith in Action’ organised by the Art of Living in association with the United Nations Aids Control (UNAIDS) and Asian Interfaith Network on Aids (AINA) said that HIV/Aids was a developmental problem, which has become a social problem. She did admit that India was better of when compared to Durban, where every fourth person is infected by with HIV. India has been able to contain the disease to some extent.

Dr. Denis Broun, UNAIDS country coordinator, India, claims that 33.2 million people are living with HIV worldwide. Nearly 7,000 people are infected every day. He also focused upon the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.

J.V.R Prasada Rao, Director of UN-AIDS, Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, is of the view that HIV/AIDS has been identified 25 years ago, but so far there is no vaccine or cure for it.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder, Art of Living, felt that the youth should take on the responsibility of educating the youth about healthy habits and to instill an attitude free from stigma.

The meet, which involved 68 saints and over 200 delegates, drew up an action plan to check the growth of HIV/AIDS. Well-known theatre personality, Tom Alter, made use of drama to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS.

source:TOI June 2nd 2008