Assam: State-level World AIDS Day observed in Nagaon

Nagaon: The Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS), in collaboration with the District Administration, Nagaon, organized the state-level World AIDS Day on December 1, 2024, at Nehrubali Playground in Nagaon with a flurry of activities.

The theme of World AIDS Day 2024 is “Take the rights path: My health, my right!.” The theme highlights the importance of upholding human rights and fostering inclusion of all communities through which the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The day began with a foot rally comprising college students, ASHAs, representatives of TI NGOs, and other stakeholders (with miking in IEC vans and muppets) that was flagged off at Nehrubali Playground, Nagaon, by District Commissioner, Nagaon, Narendra Kr Shah, IAS, in the presence of Project Director, Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS), Dr. Indranoshee Das, ACS and other district-level and state-level officials. 

This was followed by a public meeting at Nehrubali playground, Nagaon, where Keshab Mahanta, Minister for Transport, IT etc. was the Chief Guest.  Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, “Your health is your right and sometimes we knowingly make mistakes by indulging in high risk behaviours like unprotected sex, sharing of needles and syringes while taking drugs by injecting drug users which may lead to HIV.” Thus, the Minister appealed to the gathering which comprised of mainly college students to refrain from all kinds of high risk behaviours and inculcate healthy lifestyles. Speaking on the occasion, Dr P Ashok Babu, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, said, “There was a time when the main route of HIV transmission in the statewas through unprotected sex, but now the main route of HIV transmission is through sharing of needles and syringes by injecting drug users.” “Out of the total HIV detected cases, more than 60 percent are injecting drug users and that is why there are Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centres in few hospitals across Assam where the injecting drug users are rehabilitated by offering legally prescribed drugs orally,” he said.  

Speaking on significance of World AIDS Day, Project Director, Assam State AIDS Control Society, Dr Indranoshee Das, ACS, in her speech said that World AIDS Day gives an opportunity to the people around the globe to unite in the fight against HIV and to commemorate those who have died due to AIDS-related Illness. “In order to combat HIV menace, Assam State AIDS Control Society in the last couple of years has taken up various kinds of campaigns like Integrated Health Campaign in HIV vulnerable districts, campaigns in prisons and detention centres and Intensified IEC Campaign in 10 HIV high prevalent districts of Assam,” stated a press release.

Also Read: World Aids Day: Health check-up camp organized in Lakhimpur

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