Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 21:
Amid strong allegation against the Principal Secretary (Health) for curbing funding to NGOs working under the Manipur AIDS Control Society, All Manipur NGO Partners� Consortium on HIV/AIDS has informed of the MACS Project Director G Binodkumar Sharma submitting resignation paper today.
Speaking to news persons at Manipur Press Club today, the Consortium general secretary Montu Ahanthem claimed of the Principal Secretary V Chibber, who is also the president of MACS� Executive Committee recommending to NACO for cessation of fund to MACS as a consequence of which the NGOs have had to bear the brunt.
The general secretary also contended that Chibber�s intimation to NACO lack in-depth investigation on NGOs working sincerely in the AIDS/HIV prevention campaign and reflects the Principal Secretary�s personal agenda as instruction was made to halt supply of preventive drugs at ART centres in RIMS and Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital.
Observing that such compelling situations had constrained the MACS Project Director to tender resignation, Ahanthem Montu decried Chibber�s conduct as denial of right to life.
A Consortium spokesperson said 19,536 persons were found to be HIV positive so far out of 1,23,134 persons tested from February month.
Inspite of the said figure the HIV infection rate had been reduced to 30 percent against the previous mark of 70, said the spokespersons while attributing the decline to efforts put up by various NGOs working in the field.
Observing that stopping fund to MACS may lead to escalation in the infection rate again, he demanded replacement of V Chibber with another incumbent having more knowledge and sensitivity to the issue of HIV/AIDS in Manipur.