Mangalore : Department of prisons in association with Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society organized a programme on HIV/AIDS at district prison on September 14, Sunday.

The programme was organized as per the directions of Project Director of Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society with an objective of creating awareness among jail inmates on HIV.

Speaking on the occasion, District AIDS Prevention Officer Dr Kishor Kumar M said that all the people diagnosed with HIV positive are not AIDS patients. HIV patients can lead a happy life, with medication and control. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection when the infected person develops zero resistance power.

Dr said that, the immunity of a HIV infected person will decrease after eight to 10 years. However, the HIV detection can be done only after six months of being infected.

Around 90 per cent of people get infected due to unprotected sex while others due to infected person, sharing infected syringes and needles or from pregnant mother to child. Most of the cases are found in Sex workers, migrants, homosexuals, drug addicts. Around 60 per cent of HIV patients are prone to TB, he added.

District Prison Superintendent B Suresh was present.