Arunachal Agriculture & Horticulture Minister Tage Taki calls for crusade to eliminate AIDS

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture & Horticulture Minister Tage Taki on Thursday called upon the people to voluntarily take up the crusade to eliminate AIDS from the state.

Speaking at a function organized by the Arunachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) at Ziro in the Lower Subansiri district, the minister said that the role of youth is very crucial to curtailing the menace of HIV.

"With joint and continuous effort HIV can be eliminated from the state. Everyone should put an effort voluntarily to stop and prevent the further spread of the disease," he added.

Taki also flagged off a mass awareness rally of students from Dani Kunia Govt Higher Secondary School, where around 1000 students from different schools and colleges of the district took part.

APSACS Project Director Dr Riken Rina in his address emphasized that every individual irrespective of social status should have equal opportunity to access services to HIV treatment and counselling.

Highlighting the present scenario of HIV in the state, Dr Rina informed that there are 710 HIV-positive cases detected in the state as on September 30 this year.

"This is just the official figure and the actual figure could be much more," he said while pointing out the rising incidence of drug abuse among the youth in the state.

Expressing concern over the connection between HIV and drug abuse in the state, Dr Rina said, "We might be sitting on a time bomb due to excessive drug abuse in the state, which may explode anytime in the form of HIV".

Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Science University (IGTAMSU) Dr D Rajagopal in his address said that HIV/AIDS is preventable but not curable.

"HIV can be prevented and controlled only through mass participation. Knowledge is the only vaccine against HIV," he added.

Earlier, a skit play competition on HIV among the students of various colleges and schools of Ziro town was organized to mark World AIDS Day 2022, which was organized in collaboration with IGTAMSU.

Also Read:  Tage Taki seeks Centre's help for promotion and development of entrepreneurships in Arunachal Pradesh

Also Watch: