World Aids day observed in Jammu Kashmir

by Scoop News    December 01, 2012

Jammu,/Srinagar, December 01 (Scoop News) –World AIDS Day, observed on 1 December every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. To commemorate World AIDS Day, the J&K State AIDS Control Society (JKSACS) in collaboration with Department of Health Services and Rotary Club, Akhnoor today organized a mega awareness function at Jia Pota Ghat Akhnoor.

            Minister for Health, Horticulture & Floriculture  Sham Lal Sharma was chief guest and Vice Chairman OBC Advisory Board Master Kuldeep Verma was guest of honor on the occasion.

            Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Controller J&K,  Satish Gupta, SDM, Akhnoor,  N.S.Jamwal, BMO, Akhnoor Dr. Narinder Singh, hundreds of school, college students, teachers, doctors, paramedics, prominent citizens, members of civil society, members of Rotary Club and officers of all wings of health department were present in this important event.

            Speaking on the occasion, the Minister called for launching a strong movement against HIV/AIDS with the active involvement of various stakeholders of the society, adding that this cureless disease is consuming the lives of large number of people, irrespective of sex age regain and class worldwide. He said awareness is the key factor to keep away from this self invited disease and this can be done with the collective efforts. He said mass awareness throughout the year should continue through various media available.

            Highlighting the importance of the day, the Minister said that the day is celebrated world-wide to renew our efforts to save the lives of lacs of patients suffering from this dreaded disease. He said the day reminds us of our duties towards the AIDS patients and “we all should take a pledge this day to adopt a sympathetic and human approach towards such patients and encourage them to lead a normal life, adding that these patients need our sympathy and we must treat them with positive approach”. He said observing only one day in the name of AIDS is not sufficient, but throughout the year the fight must continue and thrust area should be schools, colleges and other vulnerable areas.  

            Strongly advocating for change in the education set up, the Minister said that moral education is as essential as other academic activities to make the students good citizens in order to eradicate several social evils which are eating into the vitals of the society. He favored a change in the present education policy and stressed for introducing the moral education subject from the primary level mandatorily. He said in the name of modernization and westernization our society is facing threat of erosion of moral values and ethics with the result a sort of restlessness has been created. He impressed upon the teachers and parents to work together to impart moral education to the children which will help them to understand things well and keep alive their rich traditions and culture. He asked the students to play the role of brand ambassadors for spreading the message of awareness about various dreaded diseases like AIDS, Cancer, TB and drug addiction in their homes and surroundings to keep the society healthy and disease-free.

            Coming down heavily on those who are still indulging in the sex determination practice in the State, he said that Government was contemplating to bring strong laws to deal with such elements. He said Government has already announced reward for the whistle blowers helping in nabbing the culprits. He described that foeticide is a great sin and whosoever was found in indulging in this crime will be dealt with severe punishment. He appealed all sections of the society to raise strong voice against this heinous crime to make a balance in the sex ratio which is depleting continuously.

            Project Director, JKSACS Dr. Rakesh Khajuria also spoke on the occasion and apprised the gathering about the initiatives taken by the JKSACS to combat the HIV/AIDS in the State. He said the organization has been making tireless efforts to generate awareness about this dreaded disease in every nook and corner of the State through different mediums. He said encouraging indicators have come to fore and there is considerable decrease in the new HIV/AIDS cases. He also sought the help of the society to fight this cureless disease and briefed about the steps for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients.

In Kashmir The Department of Health Services Kashmir organised World AIDS Day in collaboration with District tuberculosis Centre .

            Director Health Services Dr. Saleem-Ur-Rehman was the chief guest on the occasion while as Block Medical Officers, Zonal Medical Officers, Doctors, Paramedical, Asha workers and students also participated.

            Besides, the function was also attended by religious scholars intellectuals, academicians and social activists and bureaucrats.

             While addressing on the occasion the Director Health Services, Kashmir said that the department has already initiated steps to make people aware about the fatal disease and to wipe out the disease from the valley concrete measures are underway.

            Appealing people to cooperate with the department in curbing this menace, Dr. Saleem said it is people’s cooperation only which shall enable society to get rid of the disease.

            Advocating for maintaining the honour and dignity of a patient suffering from this disease, the Director said that society should always uphold the dignity of every individual inspite of the fact that the persons is suffering from such dreaded disease. He also made awareness about the causes of infection which include use of infected syringes by irresponsible medical staff, resulting in agony and suffering of an innocent person. He appealed people to be affectionate and sympathetic towards such patients so that proper medicine be made available to them.

            The function was also addressed by Principal S. P College, Srinagar  besides religious scholars.

            Meanwhile, World Aids Day was also observed at Sheikh-ul-Alam Budgam where district TB Control Society in collaboration with JandK Voluntary Health and Development Association organised a medical education resource programme also.

            About 200 participants were acquainted with the measures to control the HIV/AIDS and TB Co Infections on the occasion.

            A rally of school children was also organised by DHS Budgam on the occasion.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

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