Imphal, December 09 2010: As a part of ongoing campaign by Manipur Legislatures' forum on HIV/AIDS a day-long constituency-level session on HIV/AIDS was held at Sugnu today.

The event organised under the Forum's aegis at Sugnu Makha Community Hall was attended by works Minister K Ranjit, Oinam AC MLA Dr I Ibohalbi, who is also the Forum Secretary, and Chief Medical Officer (Thoubal) Dr Achouba as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Presenting the key-note address, State Coordinator of UNAIDS Sushil Huidrom stressed on the need for uprooting concept of discriminating and stigmatising people living with HIV/AIDS infection.

He also highlighted that only through compassion and understanding plight of the suffering people the problem could be tackled in a meaningful way.

Deputy Director MACS Dr Manikanta and HIV positive champion body-builder Pradipkumar also addressed the session as resource persons.

Speaking as the chief guest, K Ranjit iterated that without mass participation the combat against HIV/AIDS would remain futile and noted that HIV/AIDS prevalence rate within Sugnu AC is very high.

He also informed that along with the State Government, the Legislatures' Forum is not only closely monitoring the situation but also chalking out various welfare schemes for the HIV/AIDS infected persons.

Speaking at the occasion, Forum Secretary Dr Ibohalbi pointed out that compared to about 49 million people losing their lives when World War I and II broke out, HIV/AIDS epidemic has so far claimed 36 million lives.

He also conveyed that taking into account gravity of the HIV/AIDS scenario in the global as well as national context and the need for political commitment to tackle the menace, the Indian Parliament advocated formation of State level Legislature forum to spread awareness and work out pro-active policy to check prevalence of the dreaded disease.

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