Sri Vijaya Puram, June 4: Andaman & Nicobar AIDS Control Society (ANACS) in collaboration with Family Health India organized a one-day training programme for around 20 Medical Officers from Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), Reproductive Tract Infections (RTI) and HIV Services at the Conference Hall of the Directorate of Disaster Management, Sri Vijaya Puram.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Subrata Saha, Project Director, ANACS, who highlighted the crucial role of Medical Officers in strengthening HIV prevention, care, treatment, and STI/RTI management services across the islands. He emphasized the importance of enhancing the knowledge and skills of frontline healthcare providers to ensure timely diagnosis, treatment, and referral of patients while contributing to the goals of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-V).
Earlier participants were welcomed by Ms.P Deepa Laxmi, Capacity Building Officer, Family Health India.
The training covered a wide range of topics including the objectives and responsibilities of Medical Officers under NACP-V, programmatic aspects of STI/RTI services, identification and management of high-risk groups, syndromic case management, HIV care and treatment, ART management, opportunistic infections and co-morbidities, elimination of vertical transmission of HIV and Syphilis, Sampoorna Suraksha Strategy, and medico-legal aspects related to HIV and STI, including provisions of the HIV & AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.
Dr. Bitra George, Senior Technical Advisor; Dr. S.K. Harikumar, Team Leader; and Mr. Jimreeves Kirubakaran, National Programme Manager from Family Health India, along with Dr. P.K. Sikdar, Assistant Director (Lab Services), ANACS, served as resource persons for the training. They facilitated interactive sessions and shared practical insights aimed at strengthening the capacity of Medical Officers and enhancing the quality of HIV, STI, and RTI service delivery at healthcare facilities. Participants actively engaged in discussions, experience sharing, case-based learning exercises, and pre- and post-training assessments throughout the programme.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shri Senthil Nathan, Assistant Director (CST), ANACS. A feedback session was also conducted, during which participants shared their experiences and key learnings from the training. The event reaffirmed ANACS’ commitment to strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals and ensuring improved access to quality HIV and STI/RTI prevention, testing, treatment, and care services across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.