pats Manipur Legislature Forum on HIV/AIDS

October 7, 2008

pats HIV/AIDS Forum

Imphal, October 06: Acknowledging the efforts of the Manipur Legislature Forum

on HIV/AIDS in combating HIV/AIDS in the State and the difficulties it was

facing due to fund paucity, Union Labour Minister of State Fernandes has

assured that funds would be sanctioned to the forum towards its campaign.

Addressing the second general body meeting of the forum at Manipur Legislative

Assembly complex today, Fernandes who is also president of the

Parliamentarians' Forum on HIV/AIDS while hailing the efforts of the State

legislators, suggested roping in civil society organisations in their campaign

against HIV/AIDS in the State.

Noting that Manipur is one of the six States of India with high HIV/AIDS

prevalence rate, the Union Minister called upon the State legislators to

intensify their campaign so that all the people of the State receive awareness

about HIV/AIDS.

He further stressed on the need to create awareness about the virus among

pregnant women, particularly at village and community levels.

Speaker Dr Sapam Budhichandra who is also the president of the forum said that

its awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS have been suspended since 6/7 months back

due to lack of fund.

The forum has appealed to the Chief Minister to contribute Rs 50,000 to Rs one

lakh towards its fund from all the sixty legislators from their local area

development fund.

Chief Minister O Ibobi who reportedly appreciated the proposal to set aside some

amount for the forum, conveyed desire to enact a legislation so as to ensure

that maximum number of people get their blood tested for HIV.

Observing that there were many hidden cases of HIV/AIDS infection due to the

fear of stigma and discrimination, Dr Budhichandra noted that majority of the

people living in interior areas have been refraining from HIV test.

With the main mode of HIV transmission switching from intravenous drug injection

to sexual contact, the disease has been spreading from urban to rural areas and

is becoming more extensive, he noted.

According to officials of the Manipur AIDS Control Society, out of the total

number of people tested in May this year, 29,605 people including 7821 women

were found HIV positive.

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