ART drugs issue: Black badge stir launched
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 22 2023:
With the meeting held between the agitating PLHIVs and the health minister at the latter's Lamphelpat residence regarding shortage of ARV drugs remaining inconclusive, the agitation carried out by the people living with HIV since Monday has been intensified with launching of black badge campaign from Wednesday.
The agitators have also sought support from all concerned including those who are working in the field of HIV & drug.
In a release, Imphal East Network of Positive People secretary Kangabam Anandi' stated that with people on ART medication staging sit-in protest demonstrations since Monday, health minister Sapam Ranjan invited the agitators for a meeting on Wednesday during which he showed concern over the present issue and promised to look into the matter.
While accepting the minister's proposal for a formal meeting with the stakeholders concerned and assurance to look into the matter, the release, however, informed that "since the meeting could not come to a specific conclusion in the interest of the PLHIVs on ART, the agitators decided to carry on with the protest by launching black badge campaign on the third day of the agitation".
The agitation was launched at Nongmeibung Nambram Chuthek.
The protest will continue till the required monthly doses of ARV medicines are in the hands of those in need," the release maintained, while adding that black badge campaign will be followed by different forms of agitation.