If Royal Thai Army, Why not Assam Rifles

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If Royal Thai Army, Why not Assam Rifles

By: R Kharmujai.

Shillong, Sep 25: Thailand was one of the most severely affected

countries during the early stage of the AIDS pandemic. But now there

is 'sharp decline' says the Royal Thai Army's (RTA), Maj. Gen.

Suebpong Sangkharomya.

I'm proud of the sharp decline as the country (Thailand) as a whole

as openly addressed the problem and implemented strict and

continuous preventive measures, " said Maj. Gen. Sangkharomya, who

was here in this picturesque hill station attending a two-day

conclave 'Combat HIV/AIDS: A Uniformed Intervention' organized by

the Wives' Welfare Association of Assam Rifles - the oldest Indian

para-military forces in India.

Maj. Gen. Sangkharomya who is also the Director General of Armed

Forces Research Institute asserted that without early intervention,

Thailand would have suffered 8 million cases of HIV/AIDS since 1984

instead of 1 million cases. He said the Thai army had seen a drop

in the number of men entering the army who had symptoms of HIV/AIDS,

from 3.7 percent in 1993 to 0.5 percent last year.

" We managed to bring it down as tell our people that HIV/AIDS is not

just a public health problem; it is the problem of every person in

every community and all sectors of society, including education,

labour, industry and the military, should be involved in resolving

it, " the Royal Thai Army Maj. Gen. said.

However, the Maj. Gen. maintained that HIV/ AIDS still remain a

serious concern and potential for epidemic relapse is high and added

that the Royal Thai Army is prepared to combat this relapse

anytime.

Maj. Gen. Sangkharomya, who shared thoughts with senior Assam Rifles

officials including the Assam Rifles Chief, Lt. Gen. Bhophinder

Singh said seeing HIV/AIDS as a national security threat was a key

to success and advised the Assam Rifles to co-ordinate their anti-

HIV/AIDS actions with all agencies in India.

The Assam Rifles - raised in 1835 now involved in counter-insurgency

operations against 30- odd separatist insurgent groups fighting for

sovereign homeland or greater autonomy in the North East India was

the first armed forces to officially recognize that HIV/AIDS as a

major problem after more than 139 of its personnel were infected

with it and 40 of them have died.

The first HIV-positive Assam Rifles soldier was detected in 1992.

" A unified intervention is needed to tackle it and HIV/AIDS should

be treated as a security threat to the nation, " Director General of

Assam Rifles, Lt. Gen. Bhophinder Singh said.

" We are very close to that pandemic structure and needs to be

tackled urgently before it goes out of control, " the Lt. Gen said

adding that the Assam Rifles spent Rs. two crore annually to provide

the basic minimum medical facilities to the personnel.

As a part of the drive to wipe out this virus, the Assam Rifles

provide free condoms to its personnel. Lt. Gen. Singh, himself who

makes sure to carry a condom in his wallet said " carrying a condom

is a mandatory for every personnel wherever he goes. "

Taking the challenge, the Assam Rifles Wives' Welfare (ARWWA) has

already organized three big conclaves on HIV/AIDS in Shillong, which

is also the headquarter of the Assam Rifles. ARWWA, Chairperson

Winnie Singh said the Association has taken combat HIV/AIDS as their

top priority to ensure that the nation is not weaken by this

virus.

" We have a challenge at our hands and we need to tackle it

caringly, " Singh said.

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