New Delhi runs a marathon on World AIDS Day
New Delhi, Dec. 2 (ANI)
Residents of New Delhi, from all walks of life, took part in a marathon on Sunday, a day after World AIDS Day was observed across the country.
The marathon was organised by a non government organization (NGO) named India HIV/AIDS Alliance.
Members of the transgender community also took part in the marathon.
The technical director of India HIV/AIDS Alliance, Shaleen Rakesh, said: "We have organized a marathon under this program where about 600-700 people have participated. People from different communities are present in the marathon, be it men, women or transgenders. Our objective is to throw more light on HIV AIDS and spread more awareness on it so that people may know that HIV AIDS is such an infection which we can control today, with which people can lead a happy life. We are marking this as a celebration in which we celebrate the lives of the people who are living with HIV AIDS."
Global leaders last year committed to the "beginning of the end of AIDS" by 2015.
HIV is transmitted primarily through unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated blood transfusions and hypodermic needles, and from mother to baby in three ways - in the womb, during childbirth or through breastfeeding, experts say.
Despite advances in prevention worldwide, the human and financial costs of HIV/AIDS continue to mount, requiring more support from governments and the international community, World Bank.
About 2.5 million people in India out of its 1.2 billion population are living with HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS estimates show.