Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 05:
The third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme would focus on women and children, informed the project director of MACS, Dr Kh Pramodkumar.
Speaking on the inaugural function of the two day media workshop on HIV/AIDS, Dr Pramodkumar raise serious concern over the adverse impacts of HIV/AIDS in Manipur.
According to the latest data collected by Manipur AIDS Control Society, the number of HIV positive persons in the State as of June this year stands at 23,288.Of these, 5,490 are women.
And the number HIV positive children up to the age of 10 is 958.Altogether 8444 persons in the age of 21 to 30 are HIV positive.
In this age group, women contribute 2451.Though HIV was known to affect only those classified as high risk groups, today HIV is spreading to the general population including women and children and as such it has reached a very critical situation, observed Pramodkumar.
He disclosed that Manipur is among the six high prevalence states of India with HIV infection rate of 1.3 for every 100 pregnant women.
Observing that the problem of HIV is no longer a health problem but a social problem in the State, the MACS director said that the efforts of MACS and other NGOs to contain AIDS would not be enough.
It needs a collective effort from all the people of the State, he noted.
He disclosed that five projects are being taken up by NGOs for commercial sex workers besides 4 ART centres and 15 PPTCT centres.
HIV testing centres have been opened in all the nine districts in addition to ten other centres, he mentioned.
Appealing to the media to take more pro-active roles in the fight against HIV/AIDS, he opined that it would an enormous help if the media publish details of deterioration and improvement in HIV situation of Manipur on monthly basis.
Today's workshop was moderated by Dr Lokendro Arambam.
In the first session, Dr K Priyokumar presented paper on "Status of ART provision for PLWHAS and Clinical Management of AIDS cases in Manipur".