Dimapur, January 21 (MExN): An “Education support programme for infected & affected children with HIV/AIDS and affected by drugs & alcohol” organized by Youngs’ Club Dimapur (YCD) was held at Prodigals Home Resource Centre, Dimapur, on Saturday with chief medical officer, Dimapur, and chairman of Dimapur District AIDS Programme Control Unit, Dr. Sukhato Sema, as special guest of the occasion.
Dwelling on the humanitarian works of the YCD, the special guest in his address quoted Colossians 3: 23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” and said that one of the greatest challenges before NGOs and clubs such as YCD was to support and provide education to children infected or affected by HIV/AIDs.
While lauding the Youngs’ Club Dimapur for launching their pet project “Hope & Care” with the motto “Let’s give hope”, the CMO Dimapur urged NGOs involved with HIV/AIDS and alcohol patients to involve themselves in Right to Education (RTE) Act to ensure that children infected with or affected HIV/AIDS are not deprived of the right to education, as declared by the Government of India.
Dr. Sukhato said that the state government was also doing its best not to discriminate HIV/AIDS citizens by way of providing incentives and extending facilities to this section of society.
The facilities and incentives include free transportation in government buses, ration cards and other measures such as allotment of social forestry schemes under the state Forest Department.
Urging YCD to fight against stigma and discrimination of people HIV/AIDS infected and affected people, Dr. Sukhato said, “unless somebody fights for their rights, they (HIV/AIDS persons) cannot fight for themselves.”
The CMO and chairman of Dimapur District AIDS Programme Control Unit (DDAPCU) further assured Youngs’ Club that DDAPCU would extend all possible assistance to the club in their social and humanitarian endeavour.
Earlier, YCD president, Jenpu Rongmei, in his welcome address briefed on the activities of the club and also highlighted “Project Care & Hope.” The YCD president informed that under this project, nine children affected by HIV/AIDS and alcohol will get the benefit of education, to be sponsored by well wishers.
He also expressed gratitude to the sponsors including president, Helpers Club, Dr. Rongsengla; Mrs, Valaeri Tungnung (beautician); Rongmei Students’ Union Dimapur, Pangti Kamei; Nagaland Medicine Dealers’ Association finance secretary, Naresh Jain, administrator of Hope Centre for Excellence, Miss Aien Imsong and N Kath of ‘Bridge of Hope.’
Coordinator, ‘Care & Hope’, Antsho Zomi, gave a brief report on the initiatives of the 7-team members of the YCD wing to reach out to children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDs and affected by alcohol. Parents of the sponsored children also attended the function.
Assistant director of Prodigals Home, Maong Jamir, also spoke on the occasion.
According to latest information, there are 267 children infected with HIV/AIDS in Dimapur district.
