Port Blair, Aug 13: On the occasion of “International Youth Day” on 12/08/2024, A&N AIDS Control Society launch a Two months of Intensified IEC Campaign as per the direction of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI with a primary focus on enhancing awareness through information, Communication and education regarding HIV&AIDS among all segments of the society.
The campaign was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. Suja Antony, Director of Health Services, A & N Administration, Port Blair in presence of Guest of Honour Dr. Manjulata Rao, Principal, Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE) and Dr. Subrata Saha, Project Director, A&N AIDS Control Society. More than 200 students were present in the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director of Health Services highlighted the impact of HIV/AIDS globally, stating that “nothing is new about HIV & AIDS over the year we have been having lot of programmes and lot of IEC activities with respect to HIV & AIDS, with proper information we educate ourselves and through communication we share to others. Only health department is playing a role to spread awareness among the all community but all people need to spread the awareness about HIV & AIDS.
Dr. Manjulata Rao, Principal, Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE), Middle Point, Port Blair said that we all need to join hands like a family in the fight against this virus and encouraged the students for their active participation.
Dr. Subrata Saha, Project Director, ANACS briefed about the objective of the training, Services for the prevention & control of HIV/STI & AIDS, Elimination of Vertical Transmission of HIV & Syphilis and HIV & AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act, 2017 and mentioned that we choose International Youth Day to launch Intensified IEC Campaign as the youths are the future of the country. Youths are active in all the activities like social media and they are active among all places so youths are playing a crucial role to spread awareness to all people.
Earlier, Dr. P K Sikdar, Assistant Director, (Lab Services) welcomed the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and all others present in the hall.
On this occasion Flash Mob and Nukad Natak were performed by folk troop to spread awareness among the students about HIV & AIDS and an Orientation and Capacity Building workshop of Red Ribbon Club on Prevention and Control of HIV & AIDS for the youth of TGCE was conducted. The objective of the club is to educate youth and encourage them to learn about safe and healthy lifestyles, give access to information on HIV/AIDS and safe sexual behaviors. In all the colleges such platforms are made available for free exchange of AIDS related discussions.
Shri, Kaushik Kumar Halder, AD (IEC), Shri S. Senthil Nathan, Assistant Director (CST) and Dr. P K Sikdar, Assistant Director, (Lab Services) were the resource persons. Youth were given information on the objectives of RRC and its roles and responsibilities.
The function concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri S. Senthil Nathan, Assistant Director (CST).