A report released by the Jharkhand State AIDS Control Society (JSACS) says 85 percent women are not aware of AIDS. Women constitute 13 million of the state's 27 million population.

In urban areas, 49 percent of the people are aware of the disease whereas in rural areas the figure is an appalling 8.42 percent, the report says.

Half of those who know about the disease don't know what measures should be taken for safety.

The worst affected are tribals who often have multiple partners. AIDS awareness among tribals, who constitutes 27 percent of the state's population, is only 4.2 percent.

Television has emerged as the number one medium for creating AIDS awareness. Radio and newspapers follow a close second and third.

At present Jharkhand has 200 cases of HIV/AIDS, of which 40 are full blown cases.

Recently the state government conducted a random survey among 800 people, and 95 people were found HIV positive. Of those found infected, 35 were from the below the poverty line (BPL) category.

Two blocks in the state have been identified as the most affected areas - Bharagoda of Ranchi and Vishnugarh of Hazaribagh.

"We are trying to sensitise people through government agencies and install AIDS detection machines in hospitals so that HIV positive people can be identified and treated and prevented from spreading the disease," Dinesh Sanrangi, the Jharkhand health minister, told IANS. 

JSACS has got Rs.1 million funding from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) to set up a rehabilitation centre for HIV/AIDS patients in the state.

In last three years, 11 AIDS deaths have been reported in the state.

As World AIDS Day was observed Wednesday, India with 5.1 million HIV/AIDS cases was fast expected to overtake South Africa as the country with the highest incidence of the disease.

--Indo-Asian News Service