MUMBAI,November 4: The first state inter-university sports meet to spread awareness on AIDS among the youth will begin on November 27 and conclude on December 1, World AIDS Day.The event is being hosted by the state government and the BMC in association with 15 state universities.

Director of Health Services (AIDS cell) Dr S R Salunke said the city has 2,400 full-blown AIDS cases and nearly 40,000 HIV positive cases in the 15-40 age group accounting for 70 per cent in both categories. Since a major part of this age group comprise school and college students, a sports meet was considered an apt forum for the awareness drive. The meet, estimated to cost Rs 20 lakh, will focus on how the youths are exposed to the dangers of AIDS and adoption of protective measures, said Dr Salunke.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mumbai, Dr Snehalata S Deshmukh said, ``We plan to make this event an annual feature and take up different social themes that are of immediate concern.'' On the choice of sports as a medium, Deshmukh reasoned, ``Most of the post-1985 colleges in Mumbai do not have playgrounds. The boom in cable TV further stifled the youths' interest in sports." Over 1,000 school children will participate with songs and skits at the inauguration ceremony. Another 1,000 students from the state universities will take part in five sports events viz., athletics, basketball, volleyball, mallakhambs and swimming.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.