Chandigarh, February 28: Punjab government has flagged off 11 "awareness vans" to spread awareness about HIV-AIDS and provide adequate treatment to infected people, an official statement said.

The month-long long public awareness campaign is a joint initiative of the Punjab State AIDS Control Society and Health and Family Welfare Department. Centre Agrees to Waive RSR Mode Condition for Coal Supply to Punjab: CM Mann.

These IEC (Information, Education and Communication) awareness vans, which were flagged off by Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh from Mohali on Monday, are equipped with LEDs to exhibit audio-visual awareness films, while printed material will also be distributed among people.

Lab technicians and counsellors have been specially assigned with these vans, who will conduct free HIV/AIDS tests of people at their doorstep, the minister said. Singh said the vans will visit different villages of all the districts in Punjab to sensitise people about the disease. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Warns Protesters Against Misuse of Guru Granth Sahib As Shield During Protests.

Each van will cover four to five villages daily and overall, 1,650 villages will be covered in a month, said the statement. The minister said, theatre artists will also perform street shows at villages to create awareness about HIV/AIDS.