IMPHAL, Sep 9 NNN : Manipur Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing today said the Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) cannot fight HIV\/AIDS in the state without collective support.
\nTonsing was delivering a speech during a one day state level convention on mainstreaming HIV\/AIDS for Autonomous District Councillors, Manipur at the Jubilee Hall, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here.
\nThe minister said the state and Central Governments are seriously taking the HIV\/AIDS issue in the state and taking various measures to curb it.
\nHe appealed to the NGOs and concerned departments of the Government to properly utilize funds meant for controlling the spread of HIV\/AIDS in the state.
\nTonsing said MACs alone cannot fight the HIV\/AIDS threat and control it, but need collective support of the public and political leaders as well.
\nAt the convention organised by Hill Areas Committee (HAC) and sponsored by MACS, members of the ADCs resolved to undertake various steps and contribute their mites in controlling the disease.
\nThey resolved to create an autonomous district councillors\u2019 forum on HIV\/AIDS in Manipur to facilitate, review and monitor the state response to the epidemic at least once every six months in a year.
\nTo draft policies guaranteeing universal access to information, prevention, treatment, care and support for the alleviation of HIV\/AIDS related impact and ensure its passage, they decided.
\nAlso decided that they will support strengthening of the infrastructure of the testing centres and blood banks including care, support and treatment needs of TB, STI and other co-infection and the 2nd Line ARV drugs considering the drugs resistant cases of ART roll out in the state.
\nThey also resolved that they will support allocation of funds for HIV\/AIDS control activities at all levels and encourage contribution from ADCs, MLA Local Area Development Funds as a role model. The ADC members further decided that they will encourage the participation of general public, health staff and other social workers, especially at the village and ward levels by instituting state awards of excellence.<\/p>\n\n