Temple to double up as HIV testing lab

Temple to double up as HIV testing lab
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=241208

Sec 20 temple priest to urge devotees to go for HIV test beforemarriage
Khushboo Sandhu

Chandigarh, June 14: The AIDS awareness campaign just got a novelcrusader — a temple.

Concerned over the rise in the number of AIDS cases, Shri Guga MariTemple at Sector 20 has set up a laboratory at the temple itself toconduct HIV tests. Not only this, the temple would also spreadawareness about the disease among the devotees, and encourage peopleto get HIV test done before getting married.

Pandit Kishori Lal, the priest at the temple, said, "The laboratorywill start functioning from Saturday. We have all the requisiteequipment with us. A large number of tests, including that ofHIV/AIDS, would be conducted at the laboratory."

Hematology and biochemistry tests, too, would be conducted at thelaboratory that has been named Charitable Community Laboratory.

"We have been spreading awareness among the people regarding thisdisease for quite sometime. Now, we would begin with tests at ourlaboratory. Awareness is the cure for this disease."

Representatives of State AIDS Control Society had held AIDS awarenessprogrammes for the heads of gurdwaras, temples, churches and mosquesa few months ago.

Dr Avnish Jolly, one among the volunteers to have set up the lab atthe temple, said, "The religious leaders can reach out to a largenumber of people. These leaders were sensitised, and they themselvescame forward to contribute to the cause."

"There would be qualified technicians in the laboratory to conducttests," Jolly added.

The tests would be reportedly conducted at the lowest price possible.