Skip to content Skip to navigation

Media should disseminate proper information about HIV/AIDS

A State Level Advocacy workshop was organized by Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) in association with Guwahati Press Club on 22nd September 2009 at the press club auditorium, where good number of media persons took part and participated in interaction programmes.


Inaugurating the workshop V.S. Bhaskar, IAS (Commissioner & Secretary to Health & F.W. Department, Government of Assam) appreciated the role of media in making people aware of HIV/AIDS. He further requested the media persons to continue playing the proactive role and disseminating the proper and correct information regarding different aspects of the sensitive issue. Though he admitted that Assam is a low prevalence state, it has more vulnerability, he asserted. “Primarily Assam is the gate way to the Northeast, and more and more people from high prevalence neighboring states come here for various regions,” Bhaskar pointed out.He however claimed that because of the government efforts and satisfactory media support, the awareness level is increase among difference section of people in the society. The senior official expected continued media engagement to make more people aware of the issue.



Addressing the gathering Ms M. Hagzer Barman, IAS (Project Director, ASACS) informed the media about the free transportation scheme of Assam Government) for the benefit of the HIV infected people to the Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) centre. “Under this scheme the government bears the travel expenditure of the HIV infected persons who come to the ART centre for treatment,” she also said.


Ms Barman also requested the media to spread the information about the Integrated Counseling & Testing Centre (ICTC) and Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) centers, which are being empowered to function for the respective causes.


Participating as a resource person, Ms Rakhi Chakravorty (Consultant CSM, ASACS) highlighted about various activities of the society. She revealed that a total number of 3,308 persons have been detected as HIV Positive in Assam, and over 900 people are diagnosed as AIDS patients. She insisted for more people coming to the Voluntary Blood Testing centers and hence expected for media’s support. “The HIV Positive persons have the same right to leave a dignified life like others in the society. Hence the society should provide care & support to the infected and affected HIV persons,” Ms Chakravorty said.


Talking about voluntary blood donation programme, Dr. N.N. Tishya (Deputy Director, ASACS), said that any healthy person of age 18 to 60 years with more than 45 kg weights or equal to 45 kg weight can donate blood without any problems. He advocated for voluntary donation to make ensure that safe and sufficient blood in need.


Dr. N.N. Sonowal (Assistant Project Director, ASACS) suggested for frequent media awareness programmes and appreciated the Guwahati Press Club for its initiative. Vote of thanks was offered by GPC secretary Nava Thakuria.

Author info

editor's picture

Please send your comments to editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Random Stories

Bordeishila Theatre starts at Nagaon on Jan 4

3 Jan 2011 - 10:50pm | bishwajeetsinha
The much awaited theatre season is going to kick-start in new year with promising troupe of 'Bordeishila Theatre' at Nagaon Nehru Bali field. The three days show will begin on 4th January'11 with...

Shilabhadra ailing

14 Sep 2007 - 12:38pm | pbaruah
Noted litterateur Rebato Mohan Dutta Chaudhory, popularly known as Shilabhadra, is ailing. His health condition deteriorated on Thursday morning and he was rushed to the Down Town Hospital for...

Gorchuk erupts in protest

3 Mar 2014 - 7:49pm | AT News
Many KMSS activists have staged five hour long dharna at Gorchuk area in the city demanding immediate release of Akhil Gogoi who was arrested on Sunday along with five other leaders.Talking to Assam...

International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking

26 Jun 2016 - 11:14pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
The International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking was observed at Basic Training Center, Kokrajhar with day long programme along with rest of the world. It was oorganizedby the...

Other Contents by Author

Wanna do online journalism? You can do if you are confident and workaholic. Need only an online training. We at Assam Times are ready to help you translate your dream in this roaring job. Come January 1, 2018. Register now for online course free of cost and get the advantage. Manned by a team of sharp and dedicated journos of international repute we are coming up from the new years day.  
Yet another witch hunting incident fans no less shock and anger across the on Monday two days after it came to light. The incident took place at a remote helmet in Chirang district bordering Bhutan where thr body of the victim was recovered on Saturday. Identified as Guneswar Basumatary, the local resident of Koila Moila near Dotom was believed to have been killed alleging witch craft.  According to family members,Guneswar went missing on September 16 evening he visited his relative's house at Koila Moila area. Family members lodged an FIR with Amguri PS,case number 45/2017, under section 302/201 IPC. During a search operation, police and family members recovered body in decomposed...
A local magistrate in Nagaon on Friday remanded Mithu Roy to two days police custody after the trader was produced before it in connection with the recent incident where he and his associates thrashed four former ULFA rebels who approached him for fund to feed the flood hit people.  According to allegations, he was the main culprit who hired a few local associates to beat up the youths who were raising fund.  He was arrested on Thursday as he was on the run as police arrested his three associates on Wednesday afternoon.  Meanwhile, a huge gathering in the central Assam town demanded examplary punishment of the accused youths saying that they...
A candle lighting rally was  carried out at Salakati in protest against killing of ABMSU leader Lafikul. The was organized by ABMSU and was participating by ABSU, AKRSU, bengali Federation, Santhali Student's Union and many organizations. The rally was started from Salakati anchalik Abmsu office and concluded at Railway gate. Thousands housands of activists from various student's union and civilians participated and demanded early arrests of main culprits.The ABMSU demanded CBI inquiry into Lafikul murder,arrest main culprits and provide safety and security to the persons of the region. Moinuddin Ali,ABMSU leader said that main culprits should be nabbed  as soon as possible...
United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) said The Nagas Nation has lost a true and uncompromising Nationalist. "In the creation of Western South East Asia geographic identity with an organic soul giving hope to even the smallest nationality of the region opportunity to get just political representation amongst the family of Nations reflects his deep understanding and vision in keeping with his superb statesmanship".  Describing him as a 'Grandee' of the indigenous citizens of the WESEA region, ULFA(I) chairman Dr Abhizeet Asom in his condolence message to media said "as the Chairman of United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia, he brought an affinity amongst the...
Amid an escalating controversy over beef consumption, yet another leader has quit BJP in Meghalaya suggesting a setback for the saffron party in the pre poll political landscape.  North Garo Hills BJP president Bachu Marak pulled out of the party after the national party spokesman Nolin Kohli warned him against a beef party in Tura to celebrate the three years of the NDA government at the Centre. Marak, who pulled many people to BJP in the Congress ruled state rued in his resignation letter to state party president Sjibun Lyngdoh made it plain and simple that he would never go against the sentiment of the  Garo people for whom beef is an inevitable item at any feast. He...
A crucial meeting of BPF and AGP leadership with Amit Shah is clearing the decks for the expansion of Sarbananda Sonowal cabinet slated for April 15. Senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma along with AGP president Atul Bora, his BPF counterpart Hagrama Mohilary is meeting the BJP president in New Delhi on Monday where the entire process would be finalized. Sources told www.Assam Times that Bongaigaon legislator Phani Bhushan Chaudhury is likely to be inducted in the cabinet from AGP. Both AGP and BPF will have one each in the cabinet while BJP will have six new faces in the expanded cabinet. Those who are attending the close door meet include Hagrama Mohilary, Arul Bora, Hemant Biswa...
In a bizarre incident that triggers statewide anger and surprise, the police have arrested a top ranked officer in Dispur on bribery charges on Tuesday before recovering more than Rs 1 crore from his possession.He is none other than Kujendra Doley, the irrigation secretary who alleged to have been collecting lakhs of rupees from the contractors for releasing their bills.Acting on a complaint from a contractor, the sleuths of the vigilance and anti corruption cell caught the secretary red handed and seized an astronomical amount of money from his office locker he allegedly to pay minister Ranjit Dutta.Then Doley was taken to his residence in the city and Rs 10 lakh were seized in cash during...