Gaps, challenges of existing MACS programmes discussed
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 10 2011:
A two day consultation meeting on the gaps and challenges of the existing programmes taken up by MACS began at the conference hall of State Guest House today.
The two day consultation meeting which was organized by the MACS Partner NGOs Forum was graced by H Dinesh, Chairman, MACS Partner NGOs Forum ( MPNF) and Abhiram Mongjam as the President and Guest of Honour respectively.
Delivering the key note address on the occasion, Secretary of MACS Partner NGOs Forum said that the objective of the consultative meeting was to identify the needs, gaps and challenges in the implementation of HIV & AIDS Control and prevention of the MACS partners and to recommend possible solutions for necessary steps.
Speaking on the occasion Abhiram Mongjam said that initially on 11 NGO partners took up the programme to control the spread of HIV&AIDS among injecting drug users (IDUs) under MACS.
But now there are there are 79 NGO partners taking up the targeted intervention (TI) programmes under MACS.
He further went on to say that since the roll out of ART started in the year 2004 in the state, the number of people dying of HIV and AIDS has come down to a high extent.
As a result the serious attitudes of looking at it by the people have changed and it seems the preventive measures have also been neglected by the common people.
The rate of HIV and Aids transmission among the females is increasing in the hills and rural areas of the state.
The rate in cities is more or lees the same among the males and females, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, the president of the function, H Dinesh who is the Chairman of MPNF also spoke on Harm Reduction programmes and NSEP taken up under MACS.
The function was also attended by members of NGOs working under MACS.