Imphal, May 19: A workshop on the theme of 'Border Area Action Plan for uniformed personnel on HIV/AIDS) was held at the Banquet Hall of Ist Manipur Rifles here today.

DGP Y Joykumar inaugurated the workshop organised under the aegis of North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) with the support of UN AIDS and consultation of SHALOM.

Director of NEPA T Pachuau and other top officials of BSF, CRPF and State Police Forces were present at the occasion.

In his inaugural address, Joykumar observed that places located along Indo-Myanmar border are vulnerable to spread of HIV/AIDS.

Unlike in case of Indo-Bangladesh border, there is no sign of any development in terms of road communication, health and education in these areas.

The situation is all the more apprehensive in State like Manipur which is being considered as one of the drug trafficking routes by virtue of its close proximity to the Golden Triangle, the police officer noted.

So in this backdrop, this workshop would be utilised as a platform for finding out ways and means of ensuring protection of the uniformed personnel from this dreaded disease as well as help in prevention of the same among the general population, the DGP opined.

From being a simple health issue, now the problem of HIV/AIDS has become a serious social issue that might have far reaching impact.

Without adequate knowledge and health care facilities, it would be difficult to combat the disease now, he observed.

On the responsibility of the uniformed personnel in the HIV/AIDS intervention programme being taken up, Joykumar pointed out that since the security forces are going to places where the State administration cannot reach, they would be able to help in prevention of the diseases if the uniformed personnel are sensitised and equipped with proper knowledge of the disease.

He further said Manipur is a disturbed area and there has been problem of insurgency since 1948.In a conflict area, women and children are among the lots who are suffering the most.

During ethnic clashes, many young women have been forced to work as sex workers.

So, how to resolve this conflict should also be another aspect that should be given attention by the uniformed personnel.

NEPA Director T Pachuau and Deputy Director of Manipur State AIDS Control Society Dr Th Premchand were also among those resource persons who spoke during the workshop.

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