Nationwide awareness programmes scheduled for AIDS day

MALE, Dec 2 (HNS) -- A host of programmes will be held nationwide to mark World AIDS Day, the Department of Public Health (DPH) announced. Among the programmes, DPH is planning to hold a training workshop aimed at resort managers and recruiting agencies. In addition, printed supplements and television and radio programmes were part of the AIDS awareness campaign on Saturday which was marked as World AIDS Day. DPH said that it had also forwarded information packages about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases to government offices and private organizations. The department is also encouraging people to wear the symbolic red ribbon until Friday as a symbol of solidarity with AIDS victims. Maldives has recorded 11 cases of Maldivian AIDS victims from 1991 to date. Of them, six have died from complications. The surviving five are generally well, DPH said. According to World Health Organization (WHO), some 40 million people throughout the world are victims of the fatal disease for which no cure has been discovered yet.