Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 1: Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society in collaboration with Government Super Specialty Hospital (GMC) Jammu, today organized World AIDS Day to raise public awareness about Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo who was chief guest on the occasion emphasized the need for collective efforts to fight the menace of AIDS.He said that awareness about the AIDS is a major instrument of the world community to fight it and everybody has a role to play in eradicating this deadly menace from our society.
He said that it is an opportunity to celebrate and support global efforts to prevent new HIV infections, increase HIV awareness and knowledge, and support those living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
FC emphasized that four pronged strategy is needed to fight AIDS; expanding our efforts, expanding diagnostic facilities, expanding treatment opportunities and ending the discrimination being meted out to the AIDS infected patients.
He said that the Government is planning to expand the HIV testing facility to the Public Health Centres (PHCs).
The FC said that over the last three decades major achievements have been made in the fight against AIDS but a lot needs to be done and said that there is a need for high end diagnostic facilities in the medical colleges. He said government is exploring ways and means in funding these diagnostic centres.
Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society Mushtaq Ahmad Rather highlighted the importance of community participation in raising awareness about AIDS.
The day-long event was also marked by poster competition, plays and folk performance specially created for HIV/AIDS awareness. Earlier an auto rally for creating HIV/AIDS awareness among the general public was also flagged off by the chief guest. A voluntary blood donation camp was also organized on the occasion in which people from different walks of life donated blood.
Meanwhile, National Health Mission (NHM) organized a voluntary blood donation Camp at Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar, Jammu to commemorate World AIDS Day.
Mission Director NHM, Bhupinder Kumar inaugurated the camp in which people from various quarters including employees from State Health Society, NHM and Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar donated blood.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhupinder Kumar said that blood donation is a core service within the health care system and individuals who donate blood provide a unique contribution to the health and survival of others.
Medical Superintendent, Gandhi Nagar Hospital, Dr Chander Prakash; CMO Jammu; Nodal Officer Blood services; Block Medical Officers and officers of NHM were present on the occasion.
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