21 Feb : Free Health and HIV AIDS awareness and testing camp was conducted by Voluntary Organization, Public Awareness for Healthful Approach for Living (PAHAL) at the busy Gaighat Crossing, Patna City today. Medical Director PAHAL, Dr Diwakar Tejaswi examined and tested 105 persons, mostly youth in the camp. Dr Tejaswi informed that during this festive season of Holi many migrant workers come back to Bihar from different working places and they are more vulnerable to acquire HIV infection. He informed that the incubation period of AIDS is very long (8-12 years) and most of the persons who harbour the virus are unaware of their status, the disease is spreading fastly in Bihar. Stating the present HIV statistics he remarked that presently more than 30,000 persons in Bihar is living with HIV AIDS and more than 90% of them are migrant workers. Fortunately none were tested HIV positive in the camp today.During the camp he informed that PAHAL will be conducting more Health Awareness programmes in the coming days.
