Port Blair, Jan 24: A Joint Working Group Meeting-cum-Workshop on HIV & AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act 2017, of Nodal Officers and Complaints Officers from various Departments was conducted at Tagore Govt. College of Education on 24.01.2024. The participants were nominated by the concerned Department. Thirty-Seven participants from 37 departments & Health Institutions and Educational Institutions attended the meeting-cum Workshop.

Dr. Subrata Saha, Project Director, ANACS in his key note address spoke on the objective of this workshop to understand the responsibilities as a stakeholder and how our joint effort can help us in reducing new HIV infections. He also briefed on the routes of transmission, prevention, stages of HIV infection and the myths & misconceptions associated with it.

Earlier, Shri Girish Kumar, AD (SPM) i/c welcomed all the participants and highlighted the importance of the workshop. 

Dr. P.K. Sikdar, AD (LSD) discussed on the HIV & AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act 2017 and the roles and responsibilities as a Complaints Officers, Grievance Redressal Mechanism and reporting as per the provisions given under the Act.

Dr. Jahanara Yasmeen, DD (IEC&MS) discussed on human rights and stigma & discrimination associated with HIV & AIDS.

Shri S. Senthil Nathan, AD (CST) discussed on services available for the care support and treatment for HIV. He also discussed on how sexual transmitted infections (STI) can increase the chance of HIV transmission.

The meeting was concluded with question and answer session followed by vote of thanks.