Imphal, June 30 2010: In an effort to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS and help people who would like to undergo testing voluntarily, Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) is all set to tap raging World Cup fever.

Starting from the quarter finals of the World Cup, the greatest sports event being played in South Africa, which is due to begin from July 2, MACS would be using projectors to bring alive the games on big screen at all the district headquarters and four sub-divisions for the people to watch and interlude with awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS.

At all these venues, MACS would also station vans of Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC) to help and assist individuals who would like to undergo HIV testing.

According to a MACS official, special arrangements are being made to use projectors and blow up the matches of the World Cup starting from quarter final stage on big screen for the people to watch and enjoy in all the nine district headquarters of the State and four sub-divisional headquarters namely Jiribam, Moreh, Kangpokpi and Chakpikarong.

On the other hand, to ensure delivery of every child in the hospitals after proper identification of expectant mothers, MACS is ready to launch Name Based Information Tracking System (NBITS) for the first time in Manipur in Bishnupur district next month.

This special programme is to be launched under National Rural Health Mission.

The source explained that under this programme, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Anganwadi workers would identity expectant mothers as well as lactating mothers in their respective jurisdiction and ensure their registration in health sub-centres.

Every registration would also be paid Rs 100 .

The sub-centres would relay the relevant information to the PHC/CHC and forward the same to the district hospital.

From there, the information would be brought up to the State level.

Each of the registered expectant mothers would be issued an NBITS cards, the source informed, adding that this special programme would help the pregnant mothers in delivering their child in the hospital.

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