Mon, August 29 (DIPR): Addressing as guest speaker at one day advocacy campaign on HIV/AIDS with stakeholders here at Wakching on August 25, Minister for Forest, Environment, Ecology & Wildlife, Excise, MC Konyak called upon the people of Wakching area to uphold the ethos of Christianity and moral values and do away with stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. As Christian brothers and sisters it is our responsibility to love one another and render moral support, care and concern to the people who are living with HIV/AIDS he said.
Pastors and teachers called to play vital role in creating awareness about HIV/AIDSPointing out that Churches and Schools are the two institutions, which impart moral values, he appealed to the pastors and the teachers to play a vital role in creating awareness about HIV/AIDS in their respective churches and schools. He informed that in order to reduce the HIV/AIDS rate in the state, all the legislative members of the state are contributing rupees one lakh from each constituency annually from LADP. He said that, if people wish to live a healthy and worthy life one must take good care of their health by availing free medical facilities provided by the Government and added that parents are responsible for the growth and development of their children.
Urging fervently, to say ‘No to HIV/AIDS’ the Deputy Commissioner, Mon, Angau I Thou challenged the gathering to adopt a strong resolution to make Wakching an AIDS free area. She was optimistic that if the people joint hands and fight together, Wakching can become AIDS free area and could set an example to the other areas in the district. Citing that prevention is the only cure, she exhorted to live an honest life, avoiding immoral sexuality before marriage as written in the Holy Bible. Stating the example of Africa where majority of youth have become victims of HIV/AIDS, she said, a time is near for the state to face the same situation if people are not aware of it. She also said that a time has also arrived for couples to go for compulsory HIV blood testing before marriage to protect the future generation from this menace. Inspiring the good works of the Medical Officer, Wakching for conducting compulsory HIV blood testing of the patients before medical consultation, she urged upon the Chief Medical Officer, Mon to adopt the same method both in the civil hospital and all CHCs & PHCs in the district for compulsory HIV blood testing of the patients who come for medical check up in the health centers.
District Programme Officer, Mon DAPCU in his concept briefing said HIV/AIDS is a global issue, which concerns everyone. Highlighting four ways of spreading HIV, he said if we know what HIV/AIDS is and how it infects then we can prevent and reduce HIV rate in the society. He urged upon the people not to discriminate people living with HIV. He also informed that 11722 people are detected with HIV/AIDS in the state and out of which 91 people are from Mon district. 16 HIV positive have been detected within 4 months from April to August 2011 at Civil Hospital Mon.
The MO Wakching informed that ICTC Wakching is functioning fully to provide free medical care to the people and urged the people to avail the facilities provided by the Government. To ensure the status of the patients, compulsory blood testing is done before examining his patients for treatment he added.
Chongtie Shiu, President NNP+ also spoke at the function. Voluntary blood testing by the students and public and Group discussion and interaction were the highlights of the programme. The programme was attended by Govt. officials, students, Village councils, VDBs, Church leaders & Pastors and GBs & Public leaders of Wakching area also attended the function. Earlier the programme started with welcome address by SDO Civil Wakching. The programme was organized by the NNP+ & DAPCU Mon and supported by LFA, Nagaland. The programme was held under the theme “Together we can”.
Pastors and teachers called to play vital role in creating awareness about HIV/AIDSPointing out that Churches and Schools are the two institutions, which impart moral values, he appealed to the pastors and the teachers to play a vital role in creating awareness about HIV/AIDS in their respective churches and schools. He informed that in order to reduce the HIV/AIDS rate in the state, all the legislative members of the state are contributing rupees one lakh from each constituency annually from LADP. He said that, if people wish to live a healthy and worthy life one must take good care of their health by availing free medical facilities provided by the Government and added that parents are responsible for the growth and development of their children.
Urging fervently, to say ‘No to HIV/AIDS’ the Deputy Commissioner, Mon, Angau I Thou challenged the gathering to adopt a strong resolution to make Wakching an AIDS free area. She was optimistic that if the people joint hands and fight together, Wakching can become AIDS free area and could set an example to the other areas in the district. Citing that prevention is the only cure, she exhorted to live an honest life, avoiding immoral sexuality before marriage as written in the Holy Bible. Stating the example of Africa where majority of youth have become victims of HIV/AIDS, she said, a time is near for the state to face the same situation if people are not aware of it. She also said that a time has also arrived for couples to go for compulsory HIV blood testing before marriage to protect the future generation from this menace. Inspiring the good works of the Medical Officer, Wakching for conducting compulsory HIV blood testing of the patients before medical consultation, she urged upon the Chief Medical Officer, Mon to adopt the same method both in the civil hospital and all CHCs & PHCs in the district for compulsory HIV blood testing of the patients who come for medical check up in the health centers.
District Programme Officer, Mon DAPCU in his concept briefing said HIV/AIDS is a global issue, which concerns everyone. Highlighting four ways of spreading HIV, he said if we know what HIV/AIDS is and how it infects then we can prevent and reduce HIV rate in the society. He urged upon the people not to discriminate people living with HIV. He also informed that 11722 people are detected with HIV/AIDS in the state and out of which 91 people are from Mon district. 16 HIV positive have been detected within 4 months from April to August 2011 at Civil Hospital Mon.
The MO Wakching informed that ICTC Wakching is functioning fully to provide free medical care to the people and urged the people to avail the facilities provided by the Government. To ensure the status of the patients, compulsory blood testing is done before examining his patients for treatment he added.
Chongtie Shiu, President NNP+ also spoke at the function. Voluntary blood testing by the students and public and Group discussion and interaction were the highlights of the programme. The programme was attended by Govt. officials, students, Village councils, VDBs, Church leaders & Pastors and GBs & Public leaders of Wakching area also attended the function. Earlier the programme started with welcome address by SDO Civil Wakching. The programme was organized by the NNP+ & DAPCU Mon and supported by LFA, Nagaland. The programme was held under the theme “Together we can”.
