The District legal Services Authority (DlSA) in Rayagada organised an awareness programme on HIV/AIDS here.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Judicial Magistrate as Dr MI Nabi as chief guest. Other dignitaries include Registrar, Civil Court Dr Indu Sharma, SDJM Sucharita Mohanty, Additional District Medical Officer Dr Shakti Mohanty, Deputy Superintendent of Police Santanu Mohanty, among others.
The speakers told about the issues of rights of the PlHIV, their proper medical facilities as a matter of entitlement, stigma free life and rehabilitative measures. They also laid stress on mandatory screening of HIV among would-be mothers, facilities available at DHH, Rayagada, role of ICTC, distribution of free retro vital drugs, use of sterilized needles and tested bloods.
There are five Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC) each at Sub-Divisional Headquarters Hospital, Gunupur, Rayagada, ESI Hospital, JKPur, Muniguda and two at the District Headquarters Hospital, Rayagada. Since the establishment of these ICTCs, 1, 04,835 persons have been tested out of 1, 46,607 persons, who were counselled. Out of the testing, 874 persons were found to be positive, it was told.
Similarly, the fourth battalion, CRPF, Rayagada observed the World AIDS Day in its campus where Manoj Kumar Sicon, 2nd-in-Command, Medical Officer, DHH, Rayagada Dr Haramohan Panda among others addressed the jawans. A rally was held under the leadership of CDMO, Rayagada where many college students participated.