Imphal, October 06: Acknowledging the efforts of the Manipur Legislature Forum on HIV/AIDS in combating HIV/AIDS in the State and the difficulties it was facing due to fund paucity, Union Labour Minister of State Oscar Fernandes has assured that funds would be sanctioned to the forum towards its campaign.

Addressing the second general body meeting of the forum at Manipur Legislative Assembly complex today, Oscar Fernandes who is also president of the Parliamentarians' Forum on HIV/AIDS while hailing the efforts of the State legislators, suggested roping in civil society organisations in their campaign against HIV/AIDS in the State.

Noting that Manipur is one of the six States of India with high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, the Union Minister called upon the State legislators to intensify their campaign so that all the people of the State receive awareness about HIV/AIDS.

He further stressed on the need to create awareness about the virus among pregnant women, particularly at village and community levels.

Speaker Dr Sapam Budhichandra who is also the president of the forum said that its awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS have been suspended since 6/7 months back due to lack of fund.

The forum has appealed to the Chief Minister to contribute Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh towards its fund from all the sixty legislators from their local area development fund.

Chief Minister O Ibobi who reportedly appreciated the proposal to set aside some amount for the forum, conveyed desire to enact a legislation so as to ensure that maximum number of people get their blood tested for HIV.

Observing that there were many hidden cases of HIV/AIDS infection due to the fear of stigma and discrimination, Dr Budhichandra noted that majority of the people living in interior areas have been refraining from HIV test.

With the main mode of HIV transmission switching from intravenous drug injection to sexual contact, the disease has been spreading from urban to rural areas and is becoming more extensive, he noted.

According to officials of the Manipur AIDS Control Society, out of the total number of people tested in May this year, 29,605 people including 7821 women were found HIV positive.

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