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MLA stresses on need to detect HIV/AIDS status

IMPHAL June 8 :  A one day constituency level on AIDS awareness organized by the Manipur Legislative Assembly Forum  on HIV /AIDS and UNAIDS was held at the ADC hall at Kangpokpi today.
The program was attended by Hill Area Committee chairman Thangminlen Kipgen as the chief guest and members of District Council including state coordinator of UNAIDS , Sushil Huidrom attended the program as dignitaries.
The chief guest in his speech stated the need for detecting the affected persons for preventive measures. He said that the HIV status of oneself should be tested following which consultancy can be given. “ We need to address the issue at the grass root level, initiatives should be taken by the District Council members to spread awareness and for detection of the affected at the local level, we need to know the HIV affected status of the area, whereas we should keep the results on a confidential level”, he said.
He further added that HIV/AIDS can be treated as a common disease like diabetes,and a affected person can live much longer through Anti Retroviral Therapy(AIDS), one need not be ashamed of his or her HIV status and the stigmatization issue should be addressed by all, but we must strive to prevent the spread of the virus,he said.
Addressing the gathering, state coordinator of UNAIDS Sushil Huidrom detailed on the causes and preventive measures. He said that nearly 38,016 persons are reportedly affected by the virus and the epidemic status is still high in the state according to the World Health Organization update that if more than one percent of the total population of a state is affected, then a high level status is recognized by the UN body. Among the affected more than 500 are children and presently under ART treatment.
He informed that AIDS can be compared to a chronic manageable disease and that there are two ways to prevent the epidemic status i.e. the HIV status of a person should be checked and if turns out positive then measures must be taken by the person so as to confine the virus and for the non affected to take preventive measures.
He stated that UNAIDS sets its goal to bring down the affected rate, to bring down the HIV related deaths and to end stigmatization within 2015.

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