Imphal, January 20: Leaders of political parties have pledged to take up the issue of the HIV/AIDS on priority basis of their political activities as this has become extremely serious in the state at present.

Lok Sabha MP Holkhomang Haokip, ex-CMs RK Dorendro and Radhabinod Koijam and former deputy CM Dr L Chandramani, were among the political leaders who made the pledge on the last day today of the two days workshop on the Sensitization of Political Leaders & Parties to HIV/AIDS issues which was organized by the All Manipur Working Journalist Union, under the sponsorship of Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) at the Press Club.

Former deputy CM Dr L Chandramani Singh, speaking at the workshop observed modern medical sciences has made many impossible things possible but the struggle to fight against the HIV/AIDS remains difficult.

He agreed that the neglect by politicians of the burning issues of HIV/AIDS in the state was very unfortunate and the issue requires to be put up on the political platform for taking initiative to prevent further spread of this dreaded disease.

He further said the mass involvement in the prevention of the disease in the state is very much compulsory and his party FPM will take part in any effective step to tackle the HIV/AIDS problem.

He declared that effective programmes and policies for controlling the disease will be included on priority basis in the election manifesto of the FPM.

Lok Sabha MP Holkhomang Haokip, noting the correlation between the spread of HIV/AIDS and the problem of drug abuse, admitted candidly that he was well aware of the problems of drug abuse and its consequences as some of his relatives and family members were victims of it.

Some were even HIV/AIDS victims he said.

Holkhomang made a strong case for the government to take necessary action to stop heroin trafficking in the state.

Ex-CM RK Dorendro admitted that state politicians do not have a thorough knowledge of the HIV/AIDS problem in the state as their priority was given to the development and other issues like insurgency, unemployment and the financial problems.

Former CM Radhabinod Koijam said that as long as the corruption and insurgency problem in the state remain, the problems of HIV/AIDS can never be solved.

He said the present difficulties faced by the agencies which are engaged in tackling HIV/AIDS in the state has been directly affected by corruption and the problem of insurgency.

As for the Samata Party, Manipur, he said it has already formulated programmes and policies to prevent the spreading of the dreaded disease and its party manifesto already includes the issues relating to HIV/AIDS on priority basis.