Secretary reviews implementation of National AIDS Control Program

JAMMU, MARCH 17: Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar today reviewed implementation of National AIDS Control Programme by the J&K AIDS Control Society (JKACS) in the region.

Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society, informed that National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), MOH&FW, Government of India, has mandated JKACS for implementation of National AIDS control programme in J&K. He gave a detailed presentation on various aspects of working of JKACS besides holding discussion on annual action Plans and measures for containment of AIDS in the Union Territory.

It was apprised that J&K AIDS Control Society has recently conducted PMPSE (Programmatic Mapping and Population Size Estimation) in the UT for identifying and mapping the High Risk Group (FSW, MSM, TG and IDU) population.

Secretary appreciated J&K AIDS Control Society for securing 3rd Position at national level, in research component for identifying new hotspots of high risk group population. He emphasized that although, the adult HIV prevalence in the UT of J&K is very low, efforts should be continued for proper awareness besides screening and testing of population especially among High Risk Group. Further, it must be ensured that all the HIV patients are brought under treatment through Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART), he added.

Bhupinder stressed upon the need for exploring the possibilities of providing free ration to the HIV patients for which J&K AIDS Control Society was asked to moot a proposal for taking up the matter with the appropriate forum.

Among other officers of Health & Medical Education Department, the meeting was attended by Director Finance, Additional Secretary, Health and Joint Director Planning.