SSACS organizes awareness programme for Enchey Monastery monks

GANGTOK, 17 Nov: Sikkim State AIDS Control Society [SSACS], as part of its HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme for Faith Based Organisations, organized such a programme for students of Enchey Gumpa here on 15 November.
A press release informs that around 90 students participated in the programme, which began with a welcome note followed by an interactive session on the modes of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention by Mainstreaming Officer, SSACS, Namrata Sharma.
She stressed that HIV/AIDS should be the responsibility of each and every one and that every human being should do a bit inorder to prevent further infection. The students were also told about the ICTCs (Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres) and PPTCT (Prevention from Parent to Child Transmission) and that anybody can voluntarily come forward and test their HIV status totally free of cost in any of the District Hospitals, STNM Hospital, Gangtok, and Central Referral Hospital (Manipal),Tadong, the release mentions.
Joint Director, Blood Safety, SSACS, Dr. Rinzing Lhamu further briefed the gathering about STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and RTI (Reproductive Tract Infection) and its close proximity with HIV/AIDS. She also mentioned about the important role played by the Faith Based Organisation in curbing stigma and discrimination to people living with HIV/AIDS.
She informed about the facility that can be availed by an individual who is infected with HIV and further stressed on the importance of providing proper care, support and treatment to people living with HIV & AIDS (PLHA) and maintained that with proper care, PLHAs can live a normal and healthy life, the release adds.
The programme ended with an interactive session followed by the vote of thanks.