CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, in a message on World Aids Day on December 1  called for a crusade against the AIDS epidemic and the need to tackle it through a systematic, inter-active, process with the focus on innovation, vision and massive public support. It is no longer a mission but a war to check a serious threat to society at large.

Highlighting the theme for the World AIDS Day – 2007 “Take the lead; Stop AIDS; keep the promise”, General Rodrigues said that this is an inspiring message for all, including government and non-government agencies, planners, policy makers and social activists, to actively participate to make serious and sincere efforts to combat this formidable challenge.  He expressed concern over the increasing HIV prevalence & the potential risks, especially in women and children, despite concerted efforts & campaigns at different levels. He said that the situation is alarming, not only in  our country but at the global level as well and would require an enormous effort, commitment and dedication, at all levels by NGOs and the public alike. 

Stressing the need for an in-depth analysis of the facts, an honest audit of our performance and regular monitoring of AIDS Control projects, General Rodrigues said that our systems in place so far cannot cope with its speed and that we must restructure our plans and programmes to effectively control  it on a regional basis. He said that the Administration will do its best, by providing infrastructural support and help to genuine voluntary organizations and individual philanthropists, in this endeavour.

General Rodrigues said that Chandigarh, has a special problem, as the people from adjoining states including Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir and the UP visit the City and the migratory labour comes from different parts of the country and we cannot underestimate its prevalence in our local population.  He felt that the detected cases were only the tip of the icebergs and that the medical fraternity and social voluntary organizations have to work with commitment, sincerity and dedication, to adopt a multi-prolonged strategy to cover our population at the grass root level, for early detection of HIV positive cases and positive remedial steps against this menace.

General Rodrigues appealed to academicians and intellectuals to generate public awareness and strengthen mobilization against this dreaded disease and to make it a stronger social mass movement.