Health Department to launch screening camps in Sirmaur dist

Our Correspondent

Nahan, August 7

A part of an integrated health awareness campaign, the Health Department will launch six camps across Sirmaur. This was announced by Sirmaur Chief Medical Officer Dr Ajay Pathak today.

Three such camps will be held in August at different locations in the district. A free awareness and screening camp will be held in Dhaula Kuan on August 12, followed by another on August 17 in Gondpur and the third on August 23 in Kala Amb.

These camps will offer free screening and treatment for a variety of health conditions, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV, diabetes, hepatitis C, hepatitis B and tuberculosis. Dr Pathak emphasised the importance of the campaign and said the potential patients would be brought to these camps from their homes with the assistance of NGOs, ensuring that they received necessary screening and treatment.

Dr Pathak also urged the individuals, who had engaged in risky behaviours such as unprotected sexual activities or needle sharing, to visit their nearest Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) for blood tests. He said the early detection of HIV and other STDs could lead to timely treatment, enabling patients to lead healthy lives.

He reassured the public that the identities of those tested would remain confidential, stressing that there was no need to hide such conditions as the goal of the campaign was to encourage those affected to come forward for the treatment.

Additionally, Dr Pathak dispelled the misconception that HIV could not be transmitted man to man through sexual contact, stating that this belief was entirely incorrect. He urged people to take full advantage of the services being provided by the department and actively

participate in making the campaign a success.

The department is keen on raising awareness and ensuring timely treatment to prevent the spread of such diseases, aiming to improve the overall health and wellbeing of the district’s population.