Matchmaking event organised for HIV-positive people in Surat

The '12th Marriage Bureau Function' - a matchmaking event for HIV-positive people - was organised in Hazia town of Gujarat's Surat district on Saturday by a city-based NGO.

Surat (Gujarat): A city-based NGO on Saturday held a matchmaking event for HIV-positive people in Hazia town of Gujarat's Surat district.

The '12th Marriage Bureau Function' was attended by over 700 hundred HIV-positive people looking for a partner from across Gujarat and neighbouring states.

The event was jointly organised by Reliance Foundation and Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GSNP+).

Speaking to reporters, Raksha (name changed) the organiser of the event said, "a total of 777 people, including 52 women, from Gujarat and neighbouring state joined the event."

She said the platform was created keeping in mind the difficulties faced by HIV-positive people to find a life partner for their family and friends.

"If people diagnosed with HIV are neglected by the society, then it is not the disease that will lead to their death but the discrimination will," she said.

Raksha, who is herself a HIV-positive person, said that people should be treated equally and should be given respect.

"I think people with HIV should not be discriminated against and should be given respect," she said.

With inputs from ANI