Khelen Thokchom Trust, Manipur in colloboration with Manipur State AIDS Control Society organised one day media workshop on newly adopted HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017 at Ukhrul.
TFM Ukhrul Correspondent
One day media workshop on newly adopted HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017 for Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts were held at Shalom Lodge, Ukhrul on Saturday. The workshop was organised by Khelen Thokchom Trust, Manipur in colloboration with Manipur State AIDS Control Society.
District AIDS Control Officer of Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts, Dr. Yuithingla Vashum expressed gratitude to Khelen Thokchom Trust, Manipur for the initiative. She expressed gratitude to media house for playing active role in disseminating about HIV and its scenario in Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts on particular and Maniour state in general. “The workshop will be a breakthrough and I wish this workshop a success” added Dr. Yuithingla Vashum.
Senior Journalist, Arun Irengbam on behalf of Khelen Thokchom Trust welcomed the congregation and stated that “Khelen Thokchom as a senior journalist has been moulding and shaping to every young journalist who came seeking for his guidance in every matter. The best tribute we could give back for his great service is to organised capacity building workshop for the journalist on various expects.”
State TI Coordinator of MACS, Ksh. Deepak elaborated on the topic “Basic of HIV and AIDS”. While stressing the scenario of Manipur on general and Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts in particular stated that “first HIV case was detected in 1990 and on 3rd October 1996, Manipur adopted “State AIDS Policy” and in 1998 Dtate AIDS Cell was opened under State Health Department. There are 28564 PLHIV in Manipur and since MACS alone cannot sensitise, the role of media is needed for dissemination to the masses. There are 54 NGOs running the targetted intervention, 13 ART Centre suported by MACS and 11 Link ART Centre in Manipur. Out of 16 Districts, 9 Districts are high prevalent. Ukhrul and Kamjong District is in high prevalent category. Injection and heterosexual are the main agents for the increased in HIV cases in Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts in the last few years.”
Ksh. Deepak added that anyone can dial 1097 – National AIDS Helpline for any query and recommended to install NACO AIDS App by downloading from Playstore for easy reference.
IEC and Mainstreaming of MACS, Omajit Leishangthem deliberated on the topic “HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017”. He stated that “the Act contained 50 Sections divided into 14 Chapters and come into force on 2018.” He dwelled on the various issues enshrined in the Act.
Assistant Director IEC and Mainstreaming of MACS, Phanjoubam Lanngamba sprsk on the topic “Media Ethics on HIV and AIDS Reporting”. He stated that “it was only in 2008 that a specific guideline was laid down for media while reporting cases related to HIV by Press Council of India. Reporting should be objective, factual, sensitive and data shoould be based on facts. Use of accurate terms or terminologies and one should take inform or written content for use of videos or photographs. Media while reporting HIV related cases should refrain from creating discrimination.”
Transmission of HIV through sexual root stands at high alarming rate for Ukhrul and Kamjong. Equally, IDU (injection drug use) is very high and needs to be controlled to reduce HIV infection in Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts. It is learnt that there are 1876 PLHIV and 1250 ART clients in Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts combine. There is 80% decline of HIV since 2010 in India and Manipur stands at 29% decline.