ARV drugs distribution restored
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 05 2014: MACS employees have restored distribution of ARV drugs considering the inconveniences being faced by PLHIVs due to their ongoing indefinite cease work strike.

However, the employees said that they would continue their stir with the exception of distributing ARV drugs until their demands are fulfilled.

It may be mentioned that PLHIVs have been facing inconveniences since the past many days when Manipur AIDS Control Society Employees Association (MACSEA) went on a cease work stir demanding regularisation of their service.

It is unfortunate to keep MACS employees on contract basis for long, an employee said and added that the Government must not undermine the service of MACS employees who have been working for the welfare of PLHIVs for many years.

Senior Counsellor Philip Laishram said that the association has not received any positive response from the Government so far though a seven-point charter of demands was submitted to the Chief Minister on February 3 .

He also demanded that the facilities mentioned in the National AIDS Control Programme Phase-IV be provided to MACS employees.

A spokesperson of the association said that it was not right to run the Central Government sponsored scheme under State Health Department.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the association said that MACS staff staged a sit-in-protest at their office complex today.

Opposition leader and Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly Forum on HIV/AIDS, Dr I Ibohalbi visited the protest venue and met MACS employees.

He assured the employees that he would take up the issue in the State Assembly, Chief Minister and Health Minister.

He said that the demands of MACS employees are genuine and they deserve to get the same benefit that regular employees of the State and Centre are enjoying.

Flaying the inability of the Deputy Director, Project Director and Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary, Dr Ibohalbi said that the demands of the employees are undermined.

Citing the important roles played by MACS contract employees in HIV control and prevention programmes, Ibohalbi said that the Government must fulfil employees' demands at the earliest.

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