Addressing HIV, TB, Blood Donation: awareness campaign held at Patkai

An awareness campaign on ‘New India at 75: Addressing HIV, TB, Blood Donation’ was organised at Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) on November 10 (Inset).District Programme Officer for DAPCU Mecievinuo Zhotso speaking on misconception about HIV and AIDS at the event.

Dimapur, November 10 (MExN): An awareness campaign on ‘New India at 75: Addressing HIV, TB, Blood Donation’ was organised by the Red Ribbon Club of Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) in collaboration with Dimapur District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAAPCU) at the College’s Bundrock Hall on November 10. 

The countrywide campaign is an initiative of the National AIDS Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Clearing misconception

The objectives of the campaign is to disseminate right information on HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and its prevention and services available in the district, a press release from the PCC Mass Communication department informed. It is also aimed at creating awareness about infection, reduce the stigma and discrimination against the victims of HIV and AIDS, TB and encourage blood donation among the youths.

According to the release, District Programme Officer for DAAPCU Mecievinuo Zhotso, at the event, spoke on HIV and AIDs infection, its route of transmission, misconception, early signs, symptoms and prevention. 

Dimapur district contains the highest rate of HIV and AIDS cases in the state   and 50% of infected people are in the 15-35 age group and 95% are infected through sexual route, she informed. 

“HIV and AIDS have become chronic manageable diseases. However, there is life beyond HIV and AIDS and the infected people can also live a healthy and productive life,” Zhotso added.

District TB Officer Dr Benchilo Ngullie also elaborated on how Tuberculosis is spread and how important it is to have a good immune system to fight against the disease. She also said that the goal of National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme is to provide quality TB diagnosis and treatment to all TB patients in the community, and their vision and aim is to eliminate TB by 2025 which is 5 years ahead of the World Health Organization target, the release stated.

TB: Stigma worse than disease 

“The stigma about TB is worse than TB, and it is everyone’s responsibility to remove stigma from the mind-set of the people,” she underscored.

Meanwhile, DAAPCU Supervisor Orenthung Ngullie, supervisor, DAPCU spoke about the criteria for blood donations, misconceptions, blood bank and aims of voluntary blood donors. He also said that it is important to take blood from licensed blood banks because various diseases like hepatitis, malaria, HIV and AIDS, typhoid etc., are tested and only then, pure blood is given for transfusion.

He added that it is responsibility of every human to donate blood because there is someone in need of blood somewhere. Also he encouraged all the students to participate in the college level activities organised by the DAPCU on the theme HIV and AIDS, TB and blood donation, the release stated.