Imphal, November 24 2009: A multi media campaign aimed at controlling HIV and spreading awareness about the issues being encountered by people living with HIV/AIDS has been kick-started under the aegis of the Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) today.

The opening function held at Hotel Classic, North AOC was attended by Health Minister Ph Parijat, Commissioner (Health and Family Welfare) V Vumlunmang and team leader of NACO North East Regional Office, Guwahati, Rochana Nitra as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, MACS project director PK Jha said that the basic objectives of the campaign are to create awareness among youth between the age group of 15 to 29 and also to understand the problems and issues being encountered by people living with HIV.

The campaign would be undertaken in the form of music concerts, sports (particularly football) and media campaign through radio and television.

The campaign would cover Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong, Thoubal and Ukhrul districts, Jha said.

The campaign is also aimed at building up good character among youngsters, understanding the problems of stigma and discrimination being suffered by people living with HIV/AIDS, providing integrated counselling and testing facilities, extending facilities of prevention of parent to child transmission and retro-viral treatment, creating awareness about sexually transmitted infections, encouraging voluntary blood donation and use of condom etc, PK Jha elaborated.

Ph Parijat appreciated the step to undertake the campaign through musical concerts and sports which are very popular among youngsters.

Commissioner V Vumlunmang, quoting National Family Health Survey (NFHS-III), said that the 99 percent of the population of Manipur are aware of HIV.

Awareness rate for the country is 61 percent.

However, only 66 percent of the total population of Manipur have comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

Stressing on the need to know more about HIV, Vumlunmang said that the multi media campaign is being undertaken to give comprehensive knowledge about HIV to youngsters.

Comment