State-level World AIDS Day observed in Nagaon
Rongili Barta- Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) in collaboration with District Administration, Nagaon organized the state-level World AIDS Day on December 1, 2024 at Nehrubali Playground in Nagaon with a flurry of activities.
The theme of World AIDS Day 2024 is “Take the rights path: My health, my right!.” The theme highlights the importance of upholding human rights and fostering inclusion of all communities through which the world can end AIDS as public health threat by 2030.
The day began with a foot rally comprising college students, ASHAs, representatives of TI NGOs and other stakeholders (with miking in IEC vans and muppets) was flagged off at at Nehrubali Playground, Nagaon, by District Commissioner, Nagaon, Shri Narendra Kr Shah, IAS in presence of Project Director, Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) Dr Indranoshee Das, ACS and other district-level and state-level officials.
This was followed by a public meeting at Nehrubali playground, Nagaon, where Shri Keshab Mahanta, Hon’ble Minister for Transport, IT etc. was the Chief Guest. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, “Your health is your right and sometimes we knowingly make mistakes by indulging in high risk behaviours like unprotected sex, sharing of needles and syringes while taking drugs by injecting drug users which may lead to HIV.” Thus, the Minister appealed to the gathering which comprised of mainly college students to refrain from all kinds of high risk behaviours and inculcate healthy lifestyles. Speaking on the occasion, Dr P Ashok Babu, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary to the Govt of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, said, “There was a time when the main route of HIV transmission in the state was through unprotected sex, but now the main route of HIV transmission is through sharing of needles and syringes by injecting drug users.” “Out of the total HIV detected cases, more than 60 per cent are injecting drug users and that is why there are Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centres in few hospitals across Assam where the injecting drug users are rehabilitated by offering legally prescribed drugs orally,” he said.
Speaking on significance of World AIDS Day, Project Director, Assam State AIDS Control Society, Dr Indranoshee Das, ACS, in her speech said that World AIDS Day gives an opportunity to the people around the globe to unite in the fight against HIV and to commemorate those who have died due to AIDS-related Illness. “In order to combat HIV menace, Assam State AIDS Control Society in the last couple of years has taken up various kinds of campaigns like Integrated Health Campaign in HIV vulnerable districts, campaigns in prisons and detention centres and Intensified IEC Campaign in 10 HIV high prevalent districts of Assam.”
10 districts who successfully conducted the 60-day Intensified IEC Campaign during August-October 2024 were felicitated during the event.
The public meeting was followed by cultural programmes which will included mime shows, street plays, flash mobs etc. A blood donation camp was also organized at the venue.
Apart from the state-level event, World AIDS Day was also observed in all districts of Assam with public meetings, rallies etc. World AIDS Day was also conducted in colleges across the state.