Kathmandu, December 20:

Speakers at a workshop held here today urged religious leaders to join hands to fight HIV/AIDS.

Inaugurating the workshop, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Amik Sherchan, said, “Religious leaders should also help prevent spread of HIV/AIDS by making the people aware.”

Dr Rajendra Panta, director of the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC), said the AIDS awareness campaign should be decentralised. “The campaign should focus on the youths because they are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS epidemic,” Panta said.

Bishnu Ghimire, director of the Sakriya Sewa Samaj, said, “A council will be formed at the end of the workshop to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among the people across the country.”