Imphal, January 19: To mark the conclusion of the 50 day long AIDS awareness programme launched by MNP+ under the theme "Come! Walk with us", over 200 HIV infected persons staged a rally in the city today and later submitted a memorandum each to the Governor, Chief Minister and Health Minister.

The rally which was participated by members of the Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+) began from the MNP+'s office at Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai and snaked its way through Keishamthong, Keisham-pat.

The rallyists later submitted a memorandum each to Governor SS Sidhu, Chief Minister O Ibobi and Health Minister Laishram Nandakumar.

In the memorandum, representatives of MNP+ while highlighting the grave situation of AIDS in the State urged the Government and all the concerned organisations to press the Central Govt to ensure right to health provided under Article 21 of the Constitution by allowing access to free treatment, laboratory and medicines including ARV drugs to all HIV infected persons residing in the State.

Appealing to the authorities concerned to make some modifications in the training programmes of the health personnel so that doctors and nurses will adopt a more humane and non-discriminatory approach while dealing with HIV patients, the memo urged the Govt to enact special laws so that AIDS affected widows and children can regain their rightful properties and land.

It also demanded the Govt to provide necessary assistance to HIV affected people particularly women by introducing income generating schemes, social security measures for AIDS orphans and also large scale leadership and capacity building programmes for HIV affected people.

MNP+ also demanded the enactment of an anti-discriminatory laws specifically for HIV infected persons so that consent is taken from the patients prior to disclosing or publishing their identities by the Govt or non Governmental agencies.

Some of the other demands included in the memorandum are enacting special laws for HIV infected persons so that they can have free mobility and have access to community gathering and churches without any restrictions, inclusion of HIV affected persons in decision making bodies related to HIV/AIDS in every dist etc.

According to the report of Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) the number of persons infected with HIV recorded till October 2004 is 18,853 and a report published by WHO in March 2000, one percent of the total population of the State is estimated to be HIV infected.

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