Imphal, April 17 2010: DGP Y Joykumar has acknowledged that police too has a great role in dealing with the issue of HIV/AIDS.

Inaugurating a day-long State level training programme on HIV/AIDS for the police officers at the banquet hall of Ist Manipur Rifles here today, DGP Joykumar observed that the issue of HIV/AIDS is not just a health issue but also a serious social issue.

So, police also have a great role to play in dealing with the issue.

Speaking as chief guest of the inaugural function of the training programme organised by the State Police Department, Joykumar further observed that police should look at the issue of HIV/AIDS from two angles.

The first angle is on prevention of HIV infection from one person to another and the second angle on reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.

Pointing out that needle sharing among the drug users has been one of the main causes for HIV infection, the DGP admitted that the State Police forces have not been paying much attention to the problem of drug in Manipur thinking that it is responsibility of NAB.

But the truth is that over and above the efforts being made by NAB, OCs in every police stations should also take up the responsibility.

Police should pay special attention to prevention of drug abuse among the school children and spread of HIV/AIDS among commercial sex workers and MSMs.

Recalling that many awareness programmes and seminars have been organised in the past as well as for the police to play a proactive role in dealing with the issue of HIV infection, the DGP hoped that the today's training programme would also be helpful in this regard.

In the technical session of the training programme, Project Director (Technical) of MACS Dr Pramodkumar Singh spoke on the topic of 'HIV/AIDS situational analysis in Manipur', SP of Imphal East district Th Radheshyam on 'The role of police in dealing HIV/AIDS' and SPO of UNDP Ng Surjakanta on the topic of 'Multi-sectoral response towards combating HIV/AIDS' as resource persons.

In his presentation, Dr Pramodkumar observed that today the issue of HIV/AIDS is not only an issue of health but also a developmental issue.

There are 33,408 people in Manipur who have been infected/affected with HIV including 8,701 women and 2000 children, Dr Pramodkumar said.

Though the assistance of the police is of paramount importance in combating HIV/AIDS, unfortunately there have been instances of harassment meted out to people living with HIV and confrontation over carrying syringes and condoms out of misunderstanding.

So, there is the need for the people to understand the issue thoroughly, Pramod-kumar added.

SP Radheshyam observed that police are like doctors who treat illness in the society.

So, educating the people, spreading awareness and assisting people living with HIV/AIDS come within the responsibility of the police.

In performing their duties, police get in contact with the people including people living with HIV.

So, the role of the police in preventing spread of HIV is important, he said, adding that police should also maintain friendly relation with the NGOs and the Outreach workers.

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