Imphal, June 21 : Even though the spreading of HIV/AIDS in the valley area has been able to control, the same is continuing in the three hill districts bordering with Myanamar, Churachnadpur, Chandel and Ukhrul, said project director of Manipur AIDS Control Society, Dr Kh Promodkumar today.
The project director observed this while speaking as guest of honour at the concluding function of the two-month entrepreneurship development programme for people living with HIV/AIDS organized by the Institute of Co-operative Management (ICM) under the sponsorship of the MACS and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Co-operative commissioner, P Vaiphei attended the function as chief guest in the function which was presided by ICM chairman Kh Borkishore.
Promodkumar said, the spreading of the dreaded disease in the three districts of Manipur, Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul located along the 358 km long porous international border with Myanmar is on the raise citing the main spreading agent as women sex workers.
Myanmar women entering to the Manipur side could earn money easily from the flesh trade as Rs 100 in Indian Currency they get from having relation with a man when converted into Myanmar Currently, they could get 1000 kyat.
Out of the total population of the country 0.3 percent is infected by HIV/AIDS while in Myanmar it is 1.3 percent.
The main reason for high prevalence of the disease in the districts inter marriage between Myanmarese and Indian and having unsafe sex relation with the HIV/AIDS positive women, he said.
He revealed that in the valley area, the spreading of the disease to the uninfected persons can successfully control.
If steps for controlling the spreading in these hill areas be taken up, the state will continue getting impact of the disease.
Showing posts with label AIDS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AIDS. Show all posts
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate alarming in State
Imphal, June 18 : As the prevalence of HIV is increasing at alarming rate, the Government of Manipur has requested the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to expedite in releasing the funds/schemes related with the control of the disease in the State through National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
Manipur is one of the six high HIV prevalence States of the country.
As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS0-3, the HIV prevalence is 1.3 percent.
The data based on actual testing of 271,000 persons is much worse.
It showed a HIV prevalence of 11 percent in the State, a Government source said.
Given the need for uninterrupted implementation of the HIV/AIDS control programme, Government of Manipur has requested the National, AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to release the full amount for the current year, as a special case, the official source said.
NACO had released only Rs 4 crore during 2008-09 out of the approved action plan 2008-09 of Rs 26.27 crore.
In the meantime, the State Government has also decided to constitute District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) at the district level.
The decision of the Government is considering the rapid scale up of HIV intervention programme and as per NACO intimation on July 2008 for giving envisages in the establishment of control units at district level and intensifies the control measures.
To ensure appropriate management of the fund coming to DAPCU, a committee has to be constituted with deputy commissioner of each district as chairman and chief medical officer as vice-chairman.
Medical superintendent of district hospital of each district, district HIV/AIDS Control officer, and other related with health and control of HIV/AID at the district level will be the members.
While opening the DACPU, district AIDS officers (Manipur Health Service Grade-III) is all the districts as per cadre strength of MHS and their services will be utilized as district HIV/AIDS control officer, the source maintained.
Manipur ranks third highest as regarding the total number of HIV positive cases next to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu states of the country.
The disease becomes a major public health problem in the state since 1990 .
HIV prevalence is highest among women whose spouses were employed in the transport industry.
In Manipur and Nagaland, HIV prevalence is the highest among women whose spouses are industry/factory workers.
Prevalence among injecting drug users is 8.71 percent, it is 5.69 percent among MSMs (in selected southern and northeastern States it has remained at an average of around 10 percent for the past few years) and 5.38 percent for female sex workers (FSWs).
In 2006, HIV prevalence among mothers attending antenatal clinics (a measure of HIV prevalence in the general population) is more than 1 percent in 118 districts.
Eighty-one districts have an HIV prevalence of more than 5 percent in one or more of the high risk groups.
The HIV epidemic in the north-eastern states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland continues unabated.
In 2006, HIV seropositivity among pregnant women was 1.39 percent, 1.36 percent and 0.94 percent in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram respectively.
Although HIV prevalence among IDUs in Manipur has declined over the years, all four IDU sentinel surveillance sites in Manipur still have HIV prevalence of more than 10 percent.
In addition, HIV prevalence among sex workers appears to be increasing in Nagaland and Mizoram.
Manipur is one of the six high HIV prevalence States of the country.
As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS0-3, the HIV prevalence is 1.3 percent.
The data based on actual testing of 271,000 persons is much worse.
It showed a HIV prevalence of 11 percent in the State, a Government source said.
Given the need for uninterrupted implementation of the HIV/AIDS control programme, Government of Manipur has requested the National, AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to release the full amount for the current year, as a special case, the official source said.
NACO had released only Rs 4 crore during 2008-09 out of the approved action plan 2008-09 of Rs 26.27 crore.
In the meantime, the State Government has also decided to constitute District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) at the district level.
The decision of the Government is considering the rapid scale up of HIV intervention programme and as per NACO intimation on July 2008 for giving envisages in the establishment of control units at district level and intensifies the control measures.
To ensure appropriate management of the fund coming to DAPCU, a committee has to be constituted with deputy commissioner of each district as chairman and chief medical officer as vice-chairman.
Medical superintendent of district hospital of each district, district HIV/AIDS Control officer, and other related with health and control of HIV/AID at the district level will be the members.
While opening the DACPU, district AIDS officers (Manipur Health Service Grade-III) is all the districts as per cadre strength of MHS and their services will be utilized as district HIV/AIDS control officer, the source maintained.
Manipur ranks third highest as regarding the total number of HIV positive cases next to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu states of the country.
The disease becomes a major public health problem in the state since 1990 .
HIV prevalence is highest among women whose spouses were employed in the transport industry.
In Manipur and Nagaland, HIV prevalence is the highest among women whose spouses are industry/factory workers.
Prevalence among injecting drug users is 8.71 percent, it is 5.69 percent among MSMs (in selected southern and northeastern States it has remained at an average of around 10 percent for the past few years) and 5.38 percent for female sex workers (FSWs).
In 2006, HIV prevalence among mothers attending antenatal clinics (a measure of HIV prevalence in the general population) is more than 1 percent in 118 districts.
Eighty-one districts have an HIV prevalence of more than 5 percent in one or more of the high risk groups.
The HIV epidemic in the north-eastern states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland continues unabated.
In 2006, HIV seropositivity among pregnant women was 1.39 percent, 1.36 percent and 0.94 percent in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram respectively.
Although HIV prevalence among IDUs in Manipur has declined over the years, all four IDU sentinel surveillance sites in Manipur still have HIV prevalence of more than 10 percent.
In addition, HIV prevalence among sex workers appears to be increasing in Nagaland and Mizoram.
Manipur & areas of concern - 26th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial observance
Two and a half decades ago, a mysterious disease swept the gay population in San Francisco in the United States. Amid confusion and misconception about the disease, many young people had died unaware. In 1983, four young men – Bobbi Campbell, Bobby Reynolds, Dan Turner and Mark Feldman – knowing they would die within a year, decided to put a face against the disease by putting a banner reading “Fighting For Our Lives.” Thus the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial observance was born. On the third Sunday of May every year, people around the world light candles to honor those who have died of AIDS, to support the millions of HIV infected brethrens and to bring about awareness and behaviour change for protecting the uninfected youths across the globe.
“Together, we are the solution” is the theme for this year’s edition of International AIDS Candlelight Memorial which falls on 17th May 2009. The theme reminds us the importance of a collective effort in fighting the AIDS epidemic.
Alarm bell
Routine screening for HIV started in Manipur from 1986 and the first case of HIV infection was reported from among the Injecting Drug Users (IDU) in 1990. At present, around 30,000 HIV positive cases have been reported in Manipur. During April ’08 to March ’09, out of 39,147 pregnant women tested for HIV in the state, 272 were found to be HIV infected and 204 mother-baby pairs were given Navirapine treatment. By March this year, 5314 HIV positives were receiving ART regularly from the seven ART centres. Among them, there are 445 children below 15 years. During the same period, 760 AIDS patients were admitted to the six community care centres across the state. HIV prevalence rate among the women attending ante-natal clinics stands at 14 per 1000, which is high enough to term the state as a High Prevalence State in the country.
Empowering the MSM
Apart from IDUs and commercial sex workers, MSM (Men having sex with men) community in Manipur is a major concern. The sexual behaviours of this group of people are dangerous as far as the HIV spread is concerned. The MSM need to be given social recognition and their creativity is to be counted as a treasure of the society. The third gender people like MSM need empowerment, education and recognition so that they meet the mental and physical harassments of sexually active young people, security personnel etc. Their talents may also be tapped to make them involved in AIDS control programmes.
Borderline woes
Another major concern in Manipur is the cross border sexual activities in addition to drug trafficking and drug abuse. Manipur shares a 358 km long International border with Myanmar. Besides being a heroin producing country, Myanmar gets the dubious distinction of having high rates of HIV prevalence in south-east Asia. Border villages in Ukhrul and Chandel districts have often shared the most unwanted flesh trade and drug trafficking. Sex workers from the other side of the border frequent the border towns almost regularly. The drug users of both sides often cross each other for convenience. The HIV/AIDS control programmes in these areas need a special look.
Youth and sex – a dangerous nexus.
The world is very fast today. Young people have no time to ponder over what is good and what is bad. Onslaught of various media – cable TV, Internet, mobile phones, SMS etc has influenced the young and tender minds to imitate whatever is seen and heard. Today is the age of Fast- food- culture. Students seldom visit libraries. Many young boys and girls spend time in Internet cafes chatting with unwanted dealings. It is even heard that there are young boys and girls talking a whole night with mobile phones. SMSs in mobiles with obscene pictures and words have been the order of the day. So as to exactly counter the newly emerging media influences, we have to regularly feed the young people with HIV prevention messages without interruption. The flow of information and messages to tender minds should not be slowed down under any circumstances.
An Apparently slowed down war
Sincerity and commitment of the people fighting against AIDS has to be counted in reckoning the pace of the epidemic. Saying goes like this “if you are fighting against AIDS, you have to be swifter than HIV”. The virus loves bureaucratic warriors who dislike to be in the field and who are hardly in touch with the people at the grassroots and at the remotest borders.
No new initiative for spreading HIV/AIDS awareness to the general population is seen in Manipur. We no longer hear useful HIV prevention messages from Imphal Radio station. For the last few years, we have not seen any effective HIV jingles in Imphal Doordarshan and local cable networks. Display advertisements of HIV/AIDS messages do not appear in local newspapers as it were before. No skit or no street play has been demonstrated in public. No shumang lila has been displayed for cautioning the general public against AIDS. No new hoarding or signboard is seen at roadside and no new leaflet/ pamphlet/ poster produced. No newsletter containing AIDS information has been published for public view in the state. Awareness sessions with resource persons are very rarely organized. The official website of Manipur State AIDS Control Society sits idle on the web without any updates from the day it was launched. No shouting is heard. Does it mean either the magnitude of HIV epidemic in Manipur has diminished to such an extent that youngsters do not need more messages on HIV/AIDS or the communication and media activities for HIV prevention and control has totally failed in the state ? Here is really dearth of HIV/AIDS information and messages while other parts of the globe are flooded with rich and updated information on the disease.
The key to HIV prevention is definitely a positive behaviour among the young people which can be brought about through AWARENESS only. As there is no vaccine for HIV and no standard cure for AIDS, education remains the only means for prevention and control of the disease. Without spreading awareness and information through target-specific suitable channels regularly, all efforts for provision of ARVs, Navirapin therapy, needle syringe exchange, condom promotion etc. will not be effective. Hence, the importance of information, education and communication cannot be overlooked.
“Together, we are the solution” is the theme for this year’s edition of International AIDS Candlelight Memorial which falls on 17th May 2009. The theme reminds us the importance of a collective effort in fighting the AIDS epidemic.
Alarm bell
Routine screening for HIV started in Manipur from 1986 and the first case of HIV infection was reported from among the Injecting Drug Users (IDU) in 1990. At present, around 30,000 HIV positive cases have been reported in Manipur. During April ’08 to March ’09, out of 39,147 pregnant women tested for HIV in the state, 272 were found to be HIV infected and 204 mother-baby pairs were given Navirapine treatment. By March this year, 5314 HIV positives were receiving ART regularly from the seven ART centres. Among them, there are 445 children below 15 years. During the same period, 760 AIDS patients were admitted to the six community care centres across the state. HIV prevalence rate among the women attending ante-natal clinics stands at 14 per 1000, which is high enough to term the state as a High Prevalence State in the country.
Empowering the MSM
Apart from IDUs and commercial sex workers, MSM (Men having sex with men) community in Manipur is a major concern. The sexual behaviours of this group of people are dangerous as far as the HIV spread is concerned. The MSM need to be given social recognition and their creativity is to be counted as a treasure of the society. The third gender people like MSM need empowerment, education and recognition so that they meet the mental and physical harassments of sexually active young people, security personnel etc. Their talents may also be tapped to make them involved in AIDS control programmes.
Borderline woes
Another major concern in Manipur is the cross border sexual activities in addition to drug trafficking and drug abuse. Manipur shares a 358 km long International border with Myanmar. Besides being a heroin producing country, Myanmar gets the dubious distinction of having high rates of HIV prevalence in south-east Asia. Border villages in Ukhrul and Chandel districts have often shared the most unwanted flesh trade and drug trafficking. Sex workers from the other side of the border frequent the border towns almost regularly. The drug users of both sides often cross each other for convenience. The HIV/AIDS control programmes in these areas need a special look.
Youth and sex – a dangerous nexus.
The world is very fast today. Young people have no time to ponder over what is good and what is bad. Onslaught of various media – cable TV, Internet, mobile phones, SMS etc has influenced the young and tender minds to imitate whatever is seen and heard. Today is the age of Fast- food- culture. Students seldom visit libraries. Many young boys and girls spend time in Internet cafes chatting with unwanted dealings. It is even heard that there are young boys and girls talking a whole night with mobile phones. SMSs in mobiles with obscene pictures and words have been the order of the day. So as to exactly counter the newly emerging media influences, we have to regularly feed the young people with HIV prevention messages without interruption. The flow of information and messages to tender minds should not be slowed down under any circumstances.
An Apparently slowed down war
Sincerity and commitment of the people fighting against AIDS has to be counted in reckoning the pace of the epidemic. Saying goes like this “if you are fighting against AIDS, you have to be swifter than HIV”. The virus loves bureaucratic warriors who dislike to be in the field and who are hardly in touch with the people at the grassroots and at the remotest borders.
No new initiative for spreading HIV/AIDS awareness to the general population is seen in Manipur. We no longer hear useful HIV prevention messages from Imphal Radio station. For the last few years, we have not seen any effective HIV jingles in Imphal Doordarshan and local cable networks. Display advertisements of HIV/AIDS messages do not appear in local newspapers as it were before. No skit or no street play has been demonstrated in public. No shumang lila has been displayed for cautioning the general public against AIDS. No new hoarding or signboard is seen at roadside and no new leaflet/ pamphlet/ poster produced. No newsletter containing AIDS information has been published for public view in the state. Awareness sessions with resource persons are very rarely organized. The official website of Manipur State AIDS Control Society sits idle on the web without any updates from the day it was launched. No shouting is heard. Does it mean either the magnitude of HIV epidemic in Manipur has diminished to such an extent that youngsters do not need more messages on HIV/AIDS or the communication and media activities for HIV prevention and control has totally failed in the state ? Here is really dearth of HIV/AIDS information and messages while other parts of the globe are flooded with rich and updated information on the disease.
The key to HIV prevention is definitely a positive behaviour among the young people which can be brought about through AWARENESS only. As there is no vaccine for HIV and no standard cure for AIDS, education remains the only means for prevention and control of the disease. Without spreading awareness and information through target-specific suitable channels regularly, all efforts for provision of ARVs, Navirapin therapy, needle syringe exchange, condom promotion etc. will not be effective. Hence, the importance of information, education and communication cannot be overlooked.
NPM cries foul over NREGS
Imphal, Dec 31 : Notwithstanding the Supreme Court ruling that benefits of NREGS should also be extended to people living with HIV/AIDS, many of them are being denied the benefits of the scheme, cried Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS Manipur (NPM) .
Speaking to reporters at its New Lambulane office, NPM secretary Hegin Lupho said that not all people living with HIV/AIDS get the benefit of NREGS.
Hegin Lupho who is also a member of the Network of Positive People, Senapati district conveyed one couple living in Senapati who approached the authority to work under NREGS were given only one job card saying that NREGS guidelines do not stipulate two job cards to a household.
One Thoibi of Thoubal district who is also living with HIV said that such incidents are common in other districts too.
Many couples and widows living with HIV/AIDS are being denied NREGS job cards on the pretext that one job card has been already issued to a member of their families, Thoibi conveyed.
Taking part in the press meet, Soibam Hemanta of the Lawyers' Collective informed that the Supreme Court passed in interim order on August 5 this year which laid down that people living with HIV/AIDS should be given the benefits of NREGS.
The same ruling was also incorporated in the 19 points order passed by the Supreme Court, Hemanta added.
A training programme organised by the Network of Positive People, Senapati district on social security schemes was concluded today.
During the training programme held in the NPM office, lawyers of the Lawyers' Collective imparted training on RTI and PDS.
Speaking to reporters at its New Lambulane office, NPM secretary Hegin Lupho said that not all people living with HIV/AIDS get the benefit of NREGS.
Hegin Lupho who is also a member of the Network of Positive People, Senapati district conveyed one couple living in Senapati who approached the authority to work under NREGS were given only one job card saying that NREGS guidelines do not stipulate two job cards to a household.
One Thoibi of Thoubal district who is also living with HIV said that such incidents are common in other districts too.
Many couples and widows living with HIV/AIDS are being denied NREGS job cards on the pretext that one job card has been already issued to a member of their families, Thoibi conveyed.
Taking part in the press meet, Soibam Hemanta of the Lawyers' Collective informed that the Supreme Court passed in interim order on August 5 this year which laid down that people living with HIV/AIDS should be given the benefits of NREGS.
The same ruling was also incorporated in the 19 points order passed by the Supreme Court, Hemanta added.
A training programme organised by the Network of Positive People, Senapati district on social security schemes was concluded today.
During the training programme held in the NPM office, lawyers of the Lawyers' Collective imparted training on RTI and PDS.
AMADA's 3rd Anniversary Observed
Imphal, Dec 21 : The Third anniversary of All Manipur Anti Drug Association (AMADA) was celebrated with a grand function held at the ground of Ningthoukhong Boys' High School in Bishnupur district today.
Manipur assembly Speaker Dr S Budhichan-dra was the chief guest, MLA K Govindas, former Union Minister Th Chaoba, ex-MLA Dr M Nara and president of All Manipur Muslim Women Development Organisation (AM-DO) Anwari Noorjahan were guests of honour.
AMADA president L Tomba presided over the function of which the theme was "Let's save our identity from drugs" .
Laishram Ongbi Shila of Keishamthong Irom Pukhri Mapan, mother of Chinglenkhomba, who was mercilessly killed by a drug addict just for the two ear-rings he was wearing and Takhellambam Ongbi Ibechaobi of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai, mother of Momocha, who was also brutally killed by a drug addict just for his two ear-rings, were special guests.
Speaker Dr S Budhichandra said, drugs like heroin (No.4) were being constantly smuggled into Manipur, which happened to be a border state, from Myanmar and other south east Asian countries.
All these drugs were destroying the youths of Manipur day by day.
Manipur is one of six states in India which have been most affected by drugs, and nearly 30% of the total population of Manipur were affected by HIV/AIDS, he said.
Pointing out that drugs and other intoxicants had destroyed the lives of a number of thoughtful youths, officers and talented sports persons, Dr Budhichadra affirmed that at such critical juncture, the AMADA came out with the pledge of protecting the society of Manipur which is quite timely.
He further said that drugs and other intoxicants can never be eradicated from Manipur just by punishing the drug sellers and users.
Launching awareness programmes on how much drugs and narcotic substances can destroy human life was out paramount importance, he said.
Th Chaoba said during the days of monarchy in Manipur, permission used to be given to a few particular places for brewing alcohol.
In those days, people of Manipur had never seen heroin (No.4), not to say of having heard even the name itself.
But after Manipur's merger with India, huge supply of drugs and other narcotic substances had been smuggled into Manipur.
The government has failed to stop brewing of liquor.
Now, most of the people of the state were addicted to alcohol, he said.
Chaoba further said that Manipur Liquors Prohibition Act, 1991 passed during RK Ranbir's period and which has not been amended till today allows certain Kabui villages to brew alcohol and supply of alcohol for the armed personnel from outside Manipur.
Because of these provisions in the Act, complete prohibition of alcohol in Manipur has not been able to be implemented.
When the movement of Nisha-bandh was active, prohibition of selling and consuming alcohol could be implemented to certain degree.
But since AFSPA 1958 was imposed in 1980 in Manipur, the movement of Nisha-bandh has turned towards fighting human rights violations by security forces.
Meanwhile, movement against alcohol had gradually died down, Chaoba said.
Dr M Nara said since the liquor prohibition Act has not been properly implemented in Manipur, AMADA took birth.
Just by fighting drugs and alcohol should not be the aim of AMADA.
Let AMADA also pay attention to the phenomenon of corruption prevailing in the state.
Let us also try to stop the candidates in Moirang by-election from wooing the electorate by scooping up alcohol from the tank and serving them.
Hueiyen News Service
Manipur assembly Speaker Dr S Budhichan-dra was the chief guest, MLA K Govindas, former Union Minister Th Chaoba, ex-MLA Dr M Nara and president of All Manipur Muslim Women Development Organisation (AM-DO) Anwari Noorjahan were guests of honour.
AMADA president L Tomba presided over the function of which the theme was "Let's save our identity from drugs" .
Laishram Ongbi Shila of Keishamthong Irom Pukhri Mapan, mother of Chinglenkhomba, who was mercilessly killed by a drug addict just for the two ear-rings he was wearing and Takhellambam Ongbi Ibechaobi of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai, mother of Momocha, who was also brutally killed by a drug addict just for his two ear-rings, were special guests.
Speaker Dr S Budhichandra said, drugs like heroin (No.4) were being constantly smuggled into Manipur, which happened to be a border state, from Myanmar and other south east Asian countries.
All these drugs were destroying the youths of Manipur day by day.
Manipur is one of six states in India which have been most affected by drugs, and nearly 30% of the total population of Manipur were affected by HIV/AIDS, he said.
Pointing out that drugs and other intoxicants had destroyed the lives of a number of thoughtful youths, officers and talented sports persons, Dr Budhichadra affirmed that at such critical juncture, the AMADA came out with the pledge of protecting the society of Manipur which is quite timely.
He further said that drugs and other intoxicants can never be eradicated from Manipur just by punishing the drug sellers and users.
Launching awareness programmes on how much drugs and narcotic substances can destroy human life was out paramount importance, he said.
Th Chaoba said during the days of monarchy in Manipur, permission used to be given to a few particular places for brewing alcohol.
In those days, people of Manipur had never seen heroin (No.4), not to say of having heard even the name itself.
But after Manipur's merger with India, huge supply of drugs and other narcotic substances had been smuggled into Manipur.
The government has failed to stop brewing of liquor.
Now, most of the people of the state were addicted to alcohol, he said.
Chaoba further said that Manipur Liquors Prohibition Act, 1991 passed during RK Ranbir's period and which has not been amended till today allows certain Kabui villages to brew alcohol and supply of alcohol for the armed personnel from outside Manipur.
Because of these provisions in the Act, complete prohibition of alcohol in Manipur has not been able to be implemented.
When the movement of Nisha-bandh was active, prohibition of selling and consuming alcohol could be implemented to certain degree.
But since AFSPA 1958 was imposed in 1980 in Manipur, the movement of Nisha-bandh has turned towards fighting human rights violations by security forces.
Meanwhile, movement against alcohol had gradually died down, Chaoba said.
Dr M Nara said since the liquor prohibition Act has not been properly implemented in Manipur, AMADA took birth.
Just by fighting drugs and alcohol should not be the aim of AMADA.
Let AMADA also pay attention to the phenomenon of corruption prevailing in the state.
Let us also try to stop the candidates in Moirang by-election from wooing the electorate by scooping up alcohol from the tank and serving them.
Hueiyen News Service
AMADA aids HIV affected kids
IMPHAL, Dec 19 : In connection with its third foundation day celebration, All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) today distributed nutritional supports and stationery items to children affected with HIV/AIDS apart from depositing an amount of Rs 10,000 in the bank as fixed deposit in the name of a child living with HIV/AIDS and whose parents too have died from the disease.
The places where the nutritional supports and stationery items were distributed including Hands for Peaceful Society (20 children), Manipur Network of Positive People (30 children), Care Foundation (30 children), Kripa Foundation (30 children) and Indian AIDS Consortium (20 children).
While expressing gratitude to AMADA for the nutritional supports provided to their children, the parents and other elderly family members of the children have regretted the failure of the State Government to come out with a policy for the HIV affected children population of the State.
The grandfather of a child orphaned by HIV/AIDS said it is very unfortunate that the Government has not been able to extend any nutritional and educational support to those children in the society whose both the parents or one of the parents have died from HIV/AIDS.
The little nutritional supports being received from the private funding agencies outside Manipur is not enough to meet the requirement of these children. Moreover, the support of these funding agencies is not being received every month and the nutritional support could not be given for many months as the fund is not released in time, the 70-year old grandfather who is staying along with his grandson at Kripa Society informed.
Talking to mediapersons at the occasion of distributing the nutritional support and stationary items, human resource secretary of AMADA Bobo said that we should give up the habit of depending on outside funding agencies and try to be promote self reliant and mutual support.
After the end of their respective projects, these funding agencies would also stop providing the nutritional support and educational support being given to our children earlier.
Moreover, when the fund is not released in time, there is the problem of ensuring the nutritional and educational support of the children. So we should pool together whatever resources we have and work toward combating the problem of HIV/AIDS with sincerity.
He further explained that the distribution of the nutritional support as well as the fixed deposit amount of Rs 10,000 in the bank has been made possible with the income earned from selling the Ningol Blue Excel detergent powder manufactured by a group of women who have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
The places where the nutritional supports and stationery items were distributed including Hands for Peaceful Society (20 children), Manipur Network of Positive People (30 children), Care Foundation (30 children), Kripa Foundation (30 children) and Indian AIDS Consortium (20 children).
While expressing gratitude to AMADA for the nutritional supports provided to their children, the parents and other elderly family members of the children have regretted the failure of the State Government to come out with a policy for the HIV affected children population of the State.
The grandfather of a child orphaned by HIV/AIDS said it is very unfortunate that the Government has not been able to extend any nutritional and educational support to those children in the society whose both the parents or one of the parents have died from HIV/AIDS.
The little nutritional supports being received from the private funding agencies outside Manipur is not enough to meet the requirement of these children. Moreover, the support of these funding agencies is not being received every month and the nutritional support could not be given for many months as the fund is not released in time, the 70-year old grandfather who is staying along with his grandson at Kripa Society informed.
Talking to mediapersons at the occasion of distributing the nutritional support and stationary items, human resource secretary of AMADA Bobo said that we should give up the habit of depending on outside funding agencies and try to be promote self reliant and mutual support.
After the end of their respective projects, these funding agencies would also stop providing the nutritional support and educational support being given to our children earlier.
Moreover, when the fund is not released in time, there is the problem of ensuring the nutritional and educational support of the children. So we should pool together whatever resources we have and work toward combating the problem of HIV/AIDS with sincerity.
He further explained that the distribution of the nutritional support as well as the fixed deposit amount of Rs 10,000 in the bank has been made possible with the income earned from selling the Ningol Blue Excel detergent powder manufactured by a group of women who have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
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