ITANAGAR, Dec 01: The World AIDS Day (WAD) was observed with various awareness programmes and sports events across Arunachal Pradesh on Friday. Theme of this year World AIDS Day is “Right to Health: My Health, My Right.”
In the state capital, a two-day sports event was organized at Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy, Chimpu on Thursday and Friday to mark the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Secretary (H&FW) cum Mission Director (NHM), Dr. Tapashya Ragav stressed on the need to create a chain of information among the young people in order to prevent and control HIV/AIDS in the state.
She called upon the students of Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy to play an important role in disseminating the HIV/AIDS awareness to the people across the state specially when they go back to their respective districts.
Ragav also administered a pledge to the students for voluntarily support in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Director of Health Services, Dr. M Lego said students should know about preventative aspect of HIV as this disease is easily preventable but not curable.
In his key note address, APSACS Project Director, Dr. Riken Rina highlighted the importance of World AIDS Day and the services available with APSACS for HIV prevention and control in the state.
In his speech, Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy Principal, Tabia Chobin stressed on the role of healthy body and healthy mind for the growth of the nation. He also highlighted the role of the academy in producing sport persons for the state.
Assistant Director (TI) Dr. Marto Ette asked the students to learn about HIV/AIDS prevention and practice those knowledge in their daily life.
Around 300 athletes took part in the sports events which include 100 and 160 race competition for boys and girls in senior and junior category and the winners were awarded with prizes.
The World AIDS Day organised by APSACS was also joined by CSC VIHAAN and ArNP+ (Arunachal network of positive people)/Community people at Chimpu Itanagar.
In an effort to spread awareness on HIV and AIDS, the students of Newman School Neotan in Changlang district presented a Nukkad Natak (street play) at the Community Football Ground, Neotan village on the occasion of World AIDS Day.
School Principal Fr. Felix, while explaining the causes and symptoms of AIDS, asked the students to spread awareness among the parents, relatives and friends about AIDS & HIV. “You should hate HIV but not the people with HIV because they need more care and love”, he added.
Prior to the street play, school student Barsha Thappa gave a brief statics on the AIDS and HIV patients in India including north eastern region.
An AIDS awareness rally was also organized by the students and teachers under the aegis of the R.K. Mossang Memorial Society at Jairampur to mark the occasion.
The District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit Tezu in co-ordination with District Health Society organized an awareness programme on HIV/AIDS at Govt. Primary School, Jalukbari,Tezu to mark the World AIDS Day on Friday.
In her address DMO, Tezu cum Vice-Chairman, DAPCC, Dr. S Chai Pul spoke on misconception and discrimination regarding HIV/AIDS among the general population.
DAPCU DPO in-charge Dr. U K Nath highlighted the present status of HIV/AIDS patients in the district and the state as a whole and advised all the participants to create awareness on HIV/AIDS preventive measures. He also suggested the gathering to come forward for voluntary testing of HIV at ICTC, General Hospital,Tezu.
NVBDCP Officer Dr. S Towang briefed on Vasectomy fortnight campaign.
The health assistants including GNM and ANM trainees of the Bakin Pertin General Hospital (BPGH), Pasighat and staff of the AIDS department took out a HIV/AIDS awareness rally from the hospital campus in the Pasighat township to mark the World AIDS Day on Friday.
Speaking on occasion, BPGH Medical Superintendent Dr. Y R Darang, who flagged off the rally, advised the participants to renew the commitment to fight against AIDS.
Seeking public supports in AIDS prevention, Darang said “the HIV infected patients also have the right to live with dignity and we must cooperate and help them.”
The youth of Ziro under aegis of ‘Tiger 7 Football Tournament’ organized a Voluntary Blood Donation Camp on Friday at the Blood Bank, Gyati Takka General Hospital, Ziro to mark the World Aids Day. As many as 60 volunteers turned up during the camp and 26 units of blood were collected. Giving pre-donation counseling Dr. Joram Khopey and Dr. Pasang Sona observed that such donation camps should be encouraged as it creates awareness on importance of blood donation.
