International Youth Day: CM Sukhu to launch HIV, AIDS awareness campaign
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 10
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is set to inaugurate the state-level Intensive HIV and AIDS Awareness and Integrated Health Check-up Campaign , organised by the state AIDS Control Society, on August 12 to mark International Youth Day.
Secretary (Health) M Sudha Devi said the two-month campaign — August 12-October 12 — aimed to intensify efforts towards the prevention of HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) across the state, including spreading awareness about illnesses.
“Various activities would be conducted at the state, district and rural levels to ensure widespread participation and impact,” she added.
Devi said awareness initiatives would be driven through General House sessions in gram sabhas, with councillors, ASHA workers and folk media playing a crucial role in educating the community.
“Additionally, ‘awareness chariots’ equipped with audio and video messages related to HIV, AIDS and STDs would be launched to disseminate vital information,” the Secretary added. AIDS Control Society Project Director Rajeev Kumar emphasised the importance of focusing on educating youngsters in this regard, as they were the future of the country. He said special Red Ribbon Club activities would be organised in universities, colleges and other educational institutions in a bid to provide young people with accurate information about HIV and AIDS. Apart from conducting special sessions led by expert speakers in colleges, prayer meetings would be organised in government senior secondary schools to promote awareness, he added.
Furthermore, free testing for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI), Hepatitis, Tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases would be available as part of the integrated health check-up campaign, ensuring accessible healthcare services for all, he said.
