Public sensitised on HIV, use of ART
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 04 2024:
An awareness programme on HIV/AIDS was organised jointly by Service Recreation & Organisation of Youths (SROY) and Silam Sintha Nupi Lup at SROY, Singjamei Thongam Leikai, on Sunday.
Speaking as resource person of the programme, Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) joint director Dr Hidangmayum Diamond explained that antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a lifesaving drug of people living with HIV and advised all who have been exposed to risk behaviour to get themselves tested and start treatment if found positive.
Regarding incidence of infection, Dr Diamond said that HIV was first confirmed in Manipur among the injecting drug users community in 1990 .
Being a state close to the Golden Triangle, Manipur became a transit route for drugs transported to different parts of the country and beyond.
Gradually, youth of Manipur began to fall victims to drugs and faced various issues including HIV which was found to be transmitted through sharing of needles among themselves (drug users).
He further informed that drug abuse is still rampant in Manipur, though sharing of needles among the injecting drug users has declined significantly.
Compared to the past when HIV was initially confined among the drug users community, it has now spread to the general population and has become a big issue now, he cautioned.
Dr Diamond also noted that stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV used to be widespread in the past with drug users excluded from social gatherings, consequently resulting in people living with HIV not disclosing their status or taking treatment.
Expressing delight over advancement in treatment of HIV, he said that ART has been made available to people living with HIV since 1997.On April 1, 2004, ART was made available free of cost in RIMS and later on December 1 the same year at JNIMS.
He also praised the NGOs for their active role in making the public aware on the issue.
Earlier the lifespan of a person living with HIV was 15 years, but now with the arrival of ART, the disease can be managed and help one live normal life, he said and added that many doctors and scientists are working to end HIV.
In the meantime, as there is a life-saving drug for HIV infected people, any individual who has been exposed to risk behaviours should get themselves tested and get treated if found positive, encouraged Dr Diamond.
The programme was also attended by Singjamei SDPO Kayenpaibam Sunderbala Devi, SROY vice president Ng Indrakumar and SROY former president Th Ratankumar as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.