World AIDS Day observed in Jammu & Kashmir

Scoop News December 01, 2011

Jammu, December 01 (Updated)/(Scoop News) –Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Sham Lal Sharma has called for collective efforts to fight against the menace of AIDS, adding that, government efforts is not only sufficient to deal with this sensitive issue but entire society should take a pledge and contribute to root out this dreaded disease from the society.

Addressing a sizeable gathering of doctors, teachers, students and prominent citizens at a function organized by the J&K AIDS Control Society in collaboration with Government Women College Gandhi Nagar to commemorate the World AIDS Day in the college auditorium, here today, the Minister strongly advocated for launching a massive awareness campaign against this dreaded disease at the district, tehsil and block level to educate the masses about the HIV AIDS and its preventive measures.

The Health Minister directed the AIDS Control Society to mobilize its resources and cover the entire Jammu province within next two months.

Maintaining that students are the real ambassadors who can circulate the message in the society effectively, the Minister directed for active involvement of educational institutions, NGOs, ASHA Workers, Anganwari Workers and social organizations for a meaningful campaign. He also called for strengthening the blood banks at the district level for safe transfusion of blood.

Expressing satisfaction on the considerable decline in the HIV patients in the State during the past couple of years, the Minister said that “we have not to let up our efforts, rather we have to intensify our surveillance mechanism to detect make the Jammu and Kashmir an AIDS free zone”. This can be possible with the collective efforts of people from all walk of life and serious efforts of the Government, said Sham.

Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education, G.A.Peer in his address stressed for bringing an attitudinal change in the minds of people aganst the HIV positive patients.

He said the patients suffering with the disease need sympathy of the society and their life span can be prolonged with love and affection. He also stressed on strong movement to educate the people through different mediums. Awareness is the major factor to minimize this menace from the society, he added.

Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society, Dr. Rakesh Khajuria gave a detailed view of the organization and preventive measures initiated to tackle with the disease and those suffering from the HIV in the State.

He said AIDS Control Society is constantly making its efforts with the close association of NGOs and other institutions to create awareness among the common masses and encouraging indicators are visible.

Listing the steps taken by society, the Project Director said that 33 ICTC Centres are functional across the State which are providing counseling and testing facilities to people. He said 20 Blood Banks, 18 STD clinics have also been established for the benefits of the people across the State. He reiterated the resolve of the Society to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths in the state.

Former HoD Blood Transfusion Department, Dr. T.R.Raina also spoke on the occasion and called for strengthening the blood banks for safe blood transfusion which would be the major preventive measure to further spread the HIV infection.

Students and artists mesmerized the audience with their educative skits on the AIDS.

Earlier, the Minister also interacted with the volunteers of NCC who donated blood on the occasion. The blood donation was arranged and supervised by Dr. Sumaira of AIDS Control Society in the Mobile Van in the college premises.

He also gave away mementoes to the best participants on the occasion.

Principal Women College Gandhi Nagar, Prof. Nalni Kohli, Director Indian System of Medicines, Dr. Abdul Kabir, Controller, Drugs & Food Control Organization, Satish Gupta, Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Director Health Services, Dr. Madhu Khullar, Director Family Welfare, Dr. T.K. Moza, Director Floriculture, K K Sharma, Regional Secretary, IRCS Anil Padha, HoD Medicines, Dr. Bharat Bhushan Gupta, heads of various NGOs and large number of doctors, teachers, NCC volunteers and students of college and AMT Schools were also present on the occasion.

World AIDS Day celebrats at University of Jammu

World AIDS Day was celebrated today at University of Jammu by GFATM University of Jammu where red ribbons were distributed by Master Trainers HIV AIDS, Faculty of GFATM etc to all students, faculty of university and other officials of jammu university. I.E.C Materials related to HIV AIDS was also distributed. Among others who were present included Dr Arun Sharma Medical Superintendent Govt Hospital Sarwal Jammu, HOD Psychology Dr Arti Bakshi, Dr Chand Trehan, Manju and other officials of GFATM University of jammu. Later a poaster making competition was held in govt hospital Sarwal and Dr Arun Sharma Medical Superintendent Govt Hospital Sarwal Jammu has informed that the programmes related to World AIDS DAY would be celebrated for a fort night and for wich collaboration has been done with different institutions and organizations.

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, & Malaria (GFATM) a foundation established under the laws of Switzerland (the "Global Fund") is a worldwide initiative. In India, this project supports National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in prevention of AIDS. GFATM Round-7 focuses on primarily enhancing institutional and counselling capacities of training institutes in HIV/AIDS. This is for the first time that GFATM has partnered with institutions of higher learning who have established credentials in training and education of counsellors. Tata Institute of Social Sciences is the Principle Recipient(PR), of the Global Fund Programme, Round-7, Counselling Sub-component. Jamia Millia Islamia is a Sub recipient(SR) of the Global fund Project and has trained north zone master trainers. The SSRs for JMI to accomplish the task of training Master Trainers and Counsellors in HIV/AIDS counselling. are Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Bawana, Delhi, Punjabi University, Patiala, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, Post Graduate Institute for Medical and Research, Chandigadh, Bhagat Phool Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Sonepat).

World AIDS Day this year is about “Getting to Zero.” Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths. Backed by the United Nations the “Getting to Zero” campaign runs until 2015 and builds on last year’s successful World AIDS Day “Light for Rights” initiative encompassing a range of vital issues identified by
key affected populations. The global HIV response is at a pivotal moment, where huge strides forward are at serious risk and current approaches are reaching their limits. Only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV in need of life long treatment are receiving it. New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, while the upward trend in resources suffered a serious downturn this year. “Zero New HIV Infections” and “Zero Discrimination” are equally as likely to spark high impact events from small scale community vigils to nation wide events using the universally recognised shape of zeros and the power of light to get life and death issues the attention they deserve. For December 1st 2011 right up until 2015 it’s envisioned that
different regions and groups will each year chose one or all of the Zeros that best addresses their situation.

World AIDS Day held at SP College

On the eve of World AIDS Day, the Red Ribbon Club of S. P. College organized an awareness lecture on AIDS for the faculty, students and the residents in the college vicinity today.

Dr. Khurshied Ahmad Qureshi, consultant Physician, community medicine, Govt. Medical College, Srinagar deliberated upon the issues, causes, symptoms, consequences and preventive measures about AIDS. A number of real-life case studies were exhibited through Power Point presentation during the lecture. The physician stressed the need for a controlled life style and behaviour coupled with religious adherence.

The Principal of the college, Dr. Nazir Ahmad Gilkar highlighted the role of religious preachers, Medical Professionals and intellectuals in disseminating the awareness about this syndrome.

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