Workshop on HIV/AIDS held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 23 2013:
Diocesan Social Service Society, Imphal organised a workshop on HIV/AIDS mainstreaming at Retreat House, Mantripukhri today.
IEC materials for community based drugs and AIDS programmes were also launched at the function.
Speaking at the occasion as chief guest, Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing said, the State Government took the problem of HIV/AIDS seriously and set up a State AIDS Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister in 1986 .
The first HIV positive case was detected in 1990 in the blood samples collected from injecting drug users, he said.
Saying Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) was set up with the adoption of the State AIDS Policy in 1998, the Minister said that since then the society has been implementing different AIDS control programmes.
In 2010, Manipur was one of the six States with high HIV prevalence rate among pregnant women.
Although the HIV prevalence rate has come down considerably, it is still higher than the National average, Phungzathang said.
The State Government has taken the issue seriously and organised various awareness programmes through NGOs and different voluntary organisations, the Minister said.
He added that the State Health Department has brought down the rate of infant mortality by imparting training and organising programmes on child health.
In 2012, the State Health Department was awarded second position for achieving lowest IMR in the country, he said and added that the Department is likely to get first position this year.
Dominic Lumon DD of Archbishop of Imphal, MACS Joint Director (TI) Abhiram Mongjam, NRHM Joint Director Usha Khundrakpam and AMADA general secretary Phoni Meetei also attended the function.
Various resource persons gave speech at the function.