Punjab Governor B.K.N. Chhibber, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said if preventive measures for AIDS were not taken, AIDS cases would increase in developing countries. About 2.6 million new infections among young people were found every year, he said.

Adviser Jagdish Sagar, Health Secretary G. Vajralingam and Director Health Services Dr R.S. Sandhu were present during the function.

Chhibber gave away prizes to the winners of various contests organised by the Health Department.

The winners of the contest are as follows:
Declamation contest Plus 2 classes: English: Khurshid, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School-10. Hindi: Jashwinder Kaur, Govt. Sr. Sec. School-47. Punjabi: Ravneet Kaur, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School-10.

Declamation contest (Colleges)
English: Mansi Gupta, MCM DAV College-36. Hindi: Manish Sharma GCM-11. Punjabi: Navjot Kaur, MCM DAV College-36.Essay writing competition:
English: Mamta, GCG-42. Hindi: Vandana Maini, GCG-20. Punjabi: Chahat, GCG-11.

Poster making competition:
Group-A school level: Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27-B. Group-B college level: Kavita Singh, Guru Gobind Singh College for Women Sector 26. Group-C Professional: Saru Singh, Govt. College of Art, Sector 10.

World AIDS Day was also observed at the Rural Health Training Centre today.The programme was organised by the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

The activities included AIDS awareness seminar, STD detection camp, talk on STD, pregnancies and HIV/AIDS. About 50 patients were also examined.

The session on AIDS was inaugurated by Dr H.M. Swami, Head of Community Medicine Department, GMCH. Meanwhile, a special session on AIDS awareness was organised at Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45-B.

A talk on blood, lecture demonstration including a slide show on STDs and a video film show on AIDS was held. Main speakers were Dr J.S. Thakur, Dr G.P. Dhami and Dr Savita.

A rally of NSS volunteers was flagged off by the principal of Government College for Girls, Sector 11 on World AIDS Day. While addressing the rally, Dr N.M. Sharma, assistant director, National AIDS Control Organisation stressed on safe sex and use of safe blood.

Seventy volunteers of GGDSD College, Sector 32 took out a procession today. Dr Rajiv Wadhera, medical specialist from General Hospital, Sector 16, delivered a lecture on AIDS in Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35-D.

About 200 students participated in a rally for polio drops and immunisation organised by the Lions Club Chandigarh Vishal and Midtown at Civil Dispensary, Sector 45. The rally was flagged off by Dr Sandhu.

Meanwhile, a lecture-cum-exhibition to highlight the theme of "Force for Change: World AIDS Campaign with Young People" was organised in Chandimandir Cantonment to mark the World AIDS Day today.

Stressing upon the role of information, education and communication in creating mass awareness about the yet incurable disease, the officiating Station Commander, Col R.K. Sharma called upon the youth to carry out a campaign for preventing AIDS.

In his talk, Officer Commanding, Station Health Organisation, Lt Col G.S. Nanda explained various aspects of the disease such as causes, symptoms, modes of transmission, high risk groups as well as its prevention and control.

He also pointed out that about one-third of the estimated three crore affected with HIV virus or AIDS were young people in the age group of 10-24 years.

Students from all schools situated in the cantonment as well as a number of residents attended the seminar.

A poster competition for students on the theme of AIDS was also held. The results of the competition in the order of merit are: Rahul Kumar from Kendriya Vidyalaya-I, Aminder Dhillon and Sveta Trikha, both from Army School.