Sham seeks society’s support to fight AIDS

JAMMU: Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Mr. Sham Lal Sharma has called for collective efforts to fight against the menace of AIDS, adding that, government efforts is not only sufficient to deal with this sensitive issue but entire society should take a pledge and contribute to root out this dreaded disease from the society.
Addressing a sizeable gathering of doctors, teachers, students and prominent citizens at a function organized by the J&K AIDS Control Society in collaboration with Government Women College Gandhi Nagar to commemorate the World AIDS Day in the college auditorium, here today, the Minister strongly advocated for launching a massive awareness campaign against this dreaded disease at the district, tehsil and block level to educate the masses about the HIV AIDS and its preventive measures.
The Health Minister directed the AIDS Control Society to mobilize its resources and cover the entire Jammu province within next two months.
Maintaining that students are the real ambassadors who can circulate the message in the society effectively, the Minister directed for active involvement of educational institutions, NGOs, ASHA Workers, Anganwari Workers and social organizations for a meaningful campaign. He also called for strengthening the blood banks at the district level for safe transfusion of blood.
Expressing satisfaction on the considerable decline in the HIV patients in the State during the past couple of years, the Minister said that “we have not to let up our efforts, rather we have to intensify our surveillance mechanism to detect make the Jammu and Kashmir an AIDS free zone”. This can be possible with the collective efforts of people from all walk of life and serious efforts of the Government, said Mr. Sham.
Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education, Mr. G.A.Peer in his address stressed for bringing an attitudinal change in the minds of people aganst the HIV positive patients.
He said the patients suffering with the disease need sympathy of the society and their life span can be prolonged with love and affection. He also stressed on strong movement to educate the people through different mediums. Awareness is the major factor to minimize this menace from the society, he added.
Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society, Dr. Rakesh Khajuria gave a detailed view of the organization and preventive measures initiated to tackle with the disease and those suffering from the HIV in the State.
He said AIDS Control Society is constantly making its efforts with the close association of NGOs and other institutions to create awareness among the common masses and encouraging indicators are visible.
Listing the steps taken by society, the Project Director said that 33 ICTC Centres are functional across the State which are providing counseling and testing facilities to people. He said 20 Blood Banks, 18 STD clinics have also been established for the benefits of the people across the State. He reiterated the resolve of the Society to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths in the state.
Former HoD Blood Transfusion Department, Dr. T.R.Raina also spoke on the occasion and called for strengthening the blood banks for safe blood transfusion which would be the major preventive measure to further spread the HIV infection.
Students and artists mesmerized the audience with their educative skits on the AIDS.
Earlier, the Minister also interacted with the volunteers of NCC who donated blood on the occasion. The blood donation was arranged and supervised by Dr. Sumaira of AIDS Control Society in the Mobile Van in the college premises.
He also gave away mementoes to the best participants on the occasion.
Principal Women College Gandhi Nagar, Prof. Nalni Kohli, Director Indian System of Medicines, Dr. Abdul Kabir, Controller, Drugs & Food Control Organization, Mr. Satish Gupta, Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Director Health Services, Dr. Madhu Khullar, Director Family Welfare, Dr. T.K. Moza, Director Floriculture, Mr K K Sharma, Regional Secretary, IRCS Mr. Anil Padha, HoD Medicines, Dr. Bharat Bhushan Gupta, heads of various NGOs and large number of doctors, teachers, NCC volunteers and students of college and AMT Schools were also present on the occasion.