New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare SP Singh Baghel on Thursday (August 24) inaugurated the review meeting of the National AIDS Control Program and said that we can fight this with resolve and determination and we need to implement a more rigorous multi-media campaign to create awareness on HIV/AIDS across the country. The two-day meeting is being organiaed in Agra on August 24-25, 2023. The meeting is aimed to be part of the Sustainable Development Goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Watch: Dr Cuterus Busts 5 Common Myths About HIV/AIDS
Addressing the event, Minister Baghel accentuated the stigma faced by HIV AIDS patients. He reiterated the commitment of the government under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister towards strengthening the HIV/AIDS and STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) response. He said,
We can fight this with resolve and determination and we need to implement a more rigorous multi-media campaign to create awareness of HIV/AIDS across the country. Some steps being implemented like the National AIDS toll-free helpline, lifetime free ART services, free lifelong antiretroviral (ARV) medicines for people living with HIV, free adherence counselling, diagnostic and monitoring services like baseline laboratory investigations, CD4 count testing, and regular viral load monitoring for PLHIV.
आज आगरा में आयोजित SACS और DACS के प्रोजेक्ट डायरेक्टर की पांचवे फेज की रिव्यू मीटिंग में सम्मिलित हुआ। 29 राज्यों के प्रोजेक्ट डायरेक्टर उपस्थित रहें । NACO के AIDS प्रबंधन की बजह से हमने काफी प्रगति की है। आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी के कुशल नेतृत्व में हम हम AIDS… pic.twitter.com/vyGoI9taby
— SP SINGH BAGHEL (@spsinghbaghelpr) August 24, 2023
He also highlighted the need to reduce discrimination against the affected population. The government in this regard has notified “HIV and AIDS policy for establishments 2022”
The National AIDS and STD Control Program (NACP) is currently in its fifth phase with an aim to reduce new HIV infections as well as AIDS-related mortality and also to eliminate the stigma related to HIV/AIDS in society.
Also Read: Nagaland Gets First HIV-1 Viral Load Laboratory
He also focused on increasing social inclusivity and using a multisectoral approach to tackle HIV.
The Union Minister of State emphasised accurate detection and treatment, ensuring care services reach to remotest part of the country.
He said that a person who doesn’t give consent for testing is causing harm to the whole community, as he/she can spread the disease to other community members. He added,
It is very important to demystify the myths surrounding HIV/AIDS and we need to think about the community as a whole and get ourselves tested. We also need to support HIV/AIDS patients in the same way as we support other patients. He also highlighted the need for more rigorous IEC campaigns to demystify the myths surrounding HIV/AIDS. He also exhorted that it is with deep resolve and determination it can be checked.
Minister Baghel also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allocating Rs 15,471 crore for this programme. He stated,
It shows the deep commitment of the Prime Minister for the elimination of HIV/AIDS from India.
The event was organised by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Agra. National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) is an organisation working towards preventing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS across the country through State AIDS Control Societies, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare release said.
In Pics: From Symptoms To Transmission, Here Are Five Things To Know About HIV Infection
National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) Phase – V is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Government of India.
Hekali Zhimomi, Additional Secretary and DG NACO congratulated the country for an exceptional response in reducing the HIV burden in the country.
Shobini Rajan, DDG, NACO and Dr Chinmoyee Das, ADG, NACO were also present at the event along with all state project directors and senior government officials.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
