World AIDS Day observed, awareness rallies taken out across districts
Source: The Sangai Express

Ukl/Kak/Jiri/Tpl, December 01 2019: With the rest of the world, World AIDS Day was observed across districts in the State today.

World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 every year since 1988 to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease.

This year, the World AIDS Day was observed under the theme "Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Community by Community" .

World AIDS Day observed, awareness rallies taken out across districts

Here are the highlights of the observances in districts .

Ukhrul: During the observance at Ukhrul, Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pauline Kamson maintained that moral education and right awareness can prevent HIV/AIDS. The DC also called for collective effort to make the State free from HIV/AIDS.

Pauline said adherence to moral ethics and its values can bring positive changes and prevent people from indulging in immoral activities.

He also encouraged people living with HIV/AIDS to take ART drugs regularly for their health.

Those who are living with the disease should not be discriminated, they should be treated well and given love and care, he said.

The increase cases of HIV/AIDS in Ukhrul district is a matter of grave concern, he said advising youth to stay healthy and avoid drug abuse.

He appealed the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) and other HIV/AIDS related NGOs to put more effort in raising awareness and educating people about the disease.

Churches should also play bigger roles in controlling and preventing HIV/AIDS infection by sensitization the masses, he added.

CMO, Ukhrul Dr Kapangring stated the reason for observing the World AIDS Day.

Rev Zaklei Kaping Pastor Phungyo Baptist Church lit a candle to mark the observance, followed by special prayer for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr Yuithing Luikham, Dr Pamza Luikham and others attended the event jointly organised by DAPCU, SPYM, PASDO, NYK, CARE, VIHAAN, AHANA, NCPI+ and PLAN India.

The event was sponsored by MACS, Manipur
(Mungchan Zimik) .

Kakching: The day was observed at Grace Cottage Academy, Kakching organised by District AIDS Prevention and Control Committee Thoubal in association with NCPI+ AHANA Project Manipur.

Chief Medical Officer Kakching Dr Th Somorendra, DAPCU Thoubal and Kakching District AIDS Control Officer Dr Th Rajen Singh, District Hospital Thoubal Senior Medical Officer ART Dr L Sharatchandra, HFAO chief functionary H Premkumar, Grace Cottage Academy Kakching Head Ksh Daniel attended the event as presidium members.

A rally was also taken out to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS.

Prizes for a spot painting competition held earlier were also distributed to the winners.

Under the Manipur State Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority Thoubal and Legal Aid Clinic Hiyanglam observed the day at Hiyanglam Awang Leikai Community Hall.

Kakching Zilla Parishad Adhyaksha Ph Jiten, social activist Th Ngouba (International Awardee), Hiyanglam GP Pradhan E Shanti, DLSA Thoubal Front Officer (Retainer Lawyer) Kh Babita attended the event.

Legal Aid Clinic Hiyanglam coordinator W Amusana, Advocate Ch Manishwar and Dr Th Shantikumar spoke at the event.

Jiribam: The World AIDS Day was observed at many places in the district.

CWA and TIPTEED, Jiribam observed the day at Samupunbi (Gularthol) Community hall in the presence of MLA Md Ashab Uddin, Adhyaksha Jiribam Kh Janaki Devi, DC Mayanglambam Rajkumar Singh and SP Moirangthem Mubi Singh as presidium members.

A cycle rally was also taken out from Babupara to Samupunbi (Gularthol).

War On Drugs Association (WODA) Jiribam and Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addiction (IRCA) Jiribam jointly observed the day at the latter's auditorium.

K Saratkumar Singh, Vice Chairman, Manipur Food and Industries Corporation Ltd, Y Chandrasakhi Devi, president, WODA Jiribam, S Shanti Devi, Chairperson Jiribam Municipal Council, Dr E Okendro Singh, Chief Medical officer, Jiribam, Th Amurashi Chanu, ZEO Jiribam and S Jiten Singh, Project Coordinator, IRCA Jiribam attended the event.

Bishnupur: The observance was held under the theme "Communities make the difference" at Kiyamba Ningshing Shanglen, Bishnupur.

The event organised by District Aids Prevention and Control Committee Bishnupur was attended by Chief Medical Officer Bishnupur Dr T Manihar Singh, Medical Superintendent District Hospital Bishnupur Dr N Bino Singh and District TB Officer Bishnupur Dr S Brojen Singh as presidium members.

Students of JNV Bishnupur took out a rally from their campus to Kiyamba Ningshing Shanglen.

Prizes for a spot painting competition held on the theme of the observance yesterday were distributed to the winners.

Thokchom Alish Singh of Paramount English School Bishnupur bagged Rs 3,000 as first prize while Tongbram Bikash Singh and Khumanthem Hitendra of JNV Bishnupur bagged Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 as second and third prizes respectively.

Three students were also given consolation prizes of Rs 500 each.

Tengnoupal: Different organisations, NGOs including Organisation for Salvation of Man (OSOM), DPU-B, OSD and New Generation, under the aegis of Manipur AIDS Control Society, also observed World AIDS Day at Moreh.

A rally was also taken out from OSOM office to Indo-Myanmar Friendship gate No 2.Moreh Police SDPO Meghabarna flagged off the rally.

Red ribbon campaign was also carried out as part of the observance.

Thoubal: The World AIDS Day was also observed by NSS volunteers of Thoubal College today.

One minute silence with prayers for those who lost their lives due to AIDS was observed.

An awareness rally was also taken out in and around Thoubal Bazaar.

Chandel: AHANA Project NCPI + Plan India, CSC -VIHAN, CNP+, TI-RC-SWACD, TI-SASO, New Generation, Nehru Yuva Kendra Chandel jointly observed World AIDS Day at Kanankhu village Community Hall, Chandel DHQs today.

The programme organised under the aegis of Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) was attended by ADC Chandel Member Tongshin Willingson Anal, Kanankhu village Pastor HB Shangmari, District AIDS Control Officer Chandel Dr B Cingdeihnieng as presidium members.

Observed under the theme "Communities make the difference," the gathering carried out a rally to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS.