J&K AIDS Control Society organises World AIDS Day

Expanding HIV testing facility to PHCs: Atal Dulloo

5 Dariya News

Jammu 01-Dec-2019

Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society in collaboration with Government Super Specialty Hospital (GMC) Jammu, today organized World AIDS Day to raise public awareness  about Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).December 1 is celebrated as World AIDS Day every year all over the world and the theme for this year’s AIDS Day is  “Communities make the Difference.”Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo who was Chief Guest on the occasion emphasized the need for collective  efforts to fight the menace of AIDS.He said that awareness about the AIDS is a major instrument of the world community to fight it and everybody has a role to play in eradicating  this deadly menace from our society. He said that it is an opportunity to celebrate and support global efforts to prevent new HIV infections, increase HIV awareness and  knowledge, and support those living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).FC emphasized that four pronged strategy is needed to fight AIDS; expanding our efforts,  expanding diagnostic facilities, expanding treatment opportunities and ending the discrimination being meted out to the AIDS infected patients.

He said that the government is planning to expand the HIV testing facility to the Public Health Centres (PHCs).The FC said that over the last three decades major achievements  have been made in the fight against AIDS but a lot needs to be done and said that there is a need for high end diagnostic facilities in the medical colleges. He said government is  exploring ways and means in funding these diagnostic centres.Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society Mushtaq Ahmad Rather highlighted the importance of community  participation in raising awareness about AIDS. He also appreciated the efforts of the civil society, peer educators, counsellors, Community Health Workers who have played their  part in the fight against AIDS. The day-long event was also marked by poster competition, plays and folk performance specially created for HIV/AIDS awareness. Earlier an auto  rally for creating HIV/AIDS awareness among the general public was also flagged off by the Chief Guest. A voluntary blood donation camp was also organized on the occasion in  which people from different walks of life donated blood.