Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat has called for launching a resolute fight against the HIV/AIDS with the active involvement of various sections of the society, particularly the educational institutions, social and religious organizations.Addressing an impressive gathering at Government Women College, Gandhi Nagar here today at a function organized by the J&K AIDS Control Society (JKACS) in connection the World AIDS Day, the Minister said eradicating the menace of HIV/AIDS is a common cause and concern for everybody, and this can be achieved with the concerted and collective efforts at different levels. He sought the support of the entire society and asked for contributing selflessly to contain this deadly disease and making the society HIV/AIDS free.Minister of State for Health, Ms Asiea Naqash, Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society, Dr Sameer Mattoo, Principal, GWC, Gandhi Nagar, Dr Kiran Bakshi, several HoDs, faculty members, doctors, representatives of NGOs, Social Organizations, intellectuals, paramedics, students and senior functionaries of the JKACS were also present on the occasion.
Stressing the need for a strong state-wide awareness campaign to educate the masses about the HIV/AIDS and its prevention, the Minister said JKACS should chalk out a calendar of annual activities to reach out to every nook and corner to spread the awareness among the people. The educational institutions, including Universities, Colleges, and schools should be actively involved in the cause to achieve the desired goal. He said students are the best ambassadors who can carry the message in the society more effectively and there should be regular programmes in the educational institutions. He also strongly advocated for highlighting the subject of moral education in the curriculum right from primary to higher education level for the mandatory knowledge of students, which he said can go a long way in containing the problem.Expressing satisfaction on the functioning and achievements of the JKACS, the Minister said that situation in J&K is not so alarming as compared to other States, yet there is no scope for slackness and there should be a constant vigil on the situation. He urged the functionaries to make their missionary efforts to help the HIV sufferers in the designated Centres and monitor their status regularly. He said there is a global commitment and a deadline to make the world free from HIV/AIDS till 2030, adding that this common goal cannot be achieved without the serious efforts of every country and State. Therefore, “we have to re-double our efforts in fight against the HIV/AIDS to achieve the common goal”, the Minister asserted.
He also expressed gratitude to the Colleges/institutions, especially to GCW, Gandhi Nagar, for establishing Red Ribbon Clubs to highlight the importance of the subject through different mediums and said that activists of the Clubs are the torch bearers and helping the society in a noble cause. He said Government will provide necessary support to further strengthen these so that they can deliver more efficiently.Ms. Asiea Naqash in her address said that World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to the people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died due to this deadly virus. She said that zero stigma and discrimination are important as these continue to be the twin handicap to all the work being done to halt the spread of HIV. “We still judge people living with HIV and many still feel the piercing effects of stigma and discrimination which can be more painful than HIV itself”, said the Minister.She said many people with HIV do not know that they are infected; possibility of infection in females is more as compared to males worldwide. Young women and adolescent girls are particularly affected and rate of infection in females is on rise as compared to males.
Ms. Asiea said that there is a strong possibility of HIV positive pregnant ladies transmitting the disease to their children and this possibility can be decreased if the deliveries are by C-section and women are on regular treatment. She said that the women living with HIV are more likely to experience violence, and emphasized on women empowerment, education and uplift so as to eradicate dreaded diseases, she asserted.Dr. Sameer Mattoo highlighted the achievements of the Society and deliberated in detail on the steps initiated to further improve the functioning, preventing the spread of HIV menace, functioning of designated Centres for the treatment of HIV positive patients in the State. He said that the JKACS has devised a well-knit programme to contain the HIV/AIDS by holding regular awareness programmes across the State with the help of several voluntary bodies, educational institutions.On the occasion, the members of Red Ribbon Clubs taken out an impressive awareness rally by displaying banners and placards with slogans and messages to fight HIV/AIDs. The rally was flagged off by the Ministers in presence of large number of students, faculty members and others.The JKACS also arranged a colorful bonanza of theme based cultural items highlighting the cause with the help of famous folk cultural group Romalo Ram and party, students of the GCW, Gandhi Nagar and students of AMT School, GMC, Jammu that enthralled the audience with their mesmerizing performance. A competition for poster making/slogan writing was also organized on the occasion.The Ministers also distributed the mementoes to the winners of the competitions.