Bhubaneswar, June 5: When it comes to HIV, sex workers in the state are no longer hiding behind a cloak of secrecy.

Over the past four months, 6,818 sex workers have trooped to 40 voluntary counselling and test centres (VCTC) ? places assigned for blood tests ? to assure themselves that they are free from HIV.

State Aids Cell director R.K. Choudhury said of the sex workers, who came for blood test, only one has tested positive for HIV.

Choudhury insists that the State AIDS Cell had little to do over the large turnout of sex workers at the test centres.

?It was more of a voluntary effort. Sex workers seem to be more aware of the disease and unlike the previous years, are more willing to take the tests.?

At the VCTCs, a health worker counsels the sex workers before they give their blood sample for the test.

The counsellor tells them about the advantage of such a test and the dangers of the condition.

?If a HIV positive case is detected, the patient is counselled not to feel hopeless as proper medication can allow her to live for more years. Similarly, if it is a negative case, the patient is asked to take preventive measures to avoid the condition,? he said.

?We know about AIDS and regularly go to the Capital Hospital for tests,? said a sex worker in Mali Sahi.

Incidentally, health and family welfare minister Duryodhan Maji yesterday announced a mass HIV testing for all the sex workers at Malisahi, the red light area of the city.

A couple of NGOs complained that the red light area has more than 12 HIV positive cases.