Union AIDS Control Department Secretary lov Verma on Sunday laid emphasis on community mobilisation to check vertical transmission of HIV/AIDS among poor and vulnerable people, particularly in Ganjam district of Odisha.
“The role of communities and networks of people living with HIV in planning, service delivery and monitoring of national targets for prevention of vertical transmission should be strengthened through greater community engagement in service delivery and advocacy and through the regular sharing of data between communities and health facilities,” said Verma while speaking at the inaugural session of link Worker Convention organsied by the ActionAid.
Verma said in Ganjam district out of 20 migrant labourers, 18 were found HIV-transmitted while they are returning home.
In order to check this scenario, we will intensify our awareness drive in HIV/AIDS prone areas, said Verma.
Speaking on the occasion, Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) Project Director Dhiren Pattnaik assured the ActionAid organisation of all possible Government support for their community engagement and awareness drive.