HIV/AIDS awareness for tour operators

GANGTOK, 11 Dec: An HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme for young tour operators of Sikkim and other North Eastern states was organized by an NGO, Serenity Home in association with Sikkim State AIDS Control Society [SSACS] and Travel Agent Association of Sikkim (TAAS) on 10 Dec at TAAS Office, DPH.

There were more than 150 participants in the programme which started with a session on drug abuse taken up by Founder, Serenity Home, Udai Chandra Rai, informs a press release.

Project Director, HOPE Foundation (NGO), KC Nima addressed the gathering on HIV/AIDS, its modes of transmission and prevention, ICTC (Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre) and PPTCT (Prevention from Parent to Child Transmission) and ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy).

He informed that in Sikkim, HIV is transmitted mostly due to unsafe sexual practices and use of condoms is essential in order to be safe. He also gave a condom demonstration where he taught the participants the correct ways of using condoms. This was followed by various queries and interaction.

President, Sikkim Network of Positive People (SNP+) spoke to the gathering on Stigma and Discrimination and that HIV patients should be cared for, supported and loved. He also informed that if any People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA’s) needs any kind of support or help, they can contact SNP+, the release mentions.

Mainstreaming Officer, Sikkim SACS, Namrata Sharma addressed the gathering on the importance of Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in order to increase the awareness level in the state with the involvement of Government Departments, Public/Private Sector Bussinesses, faith-based organizations etc.

She also mentioned that such health issues are not only the responsibility of the Health Department but it should also be the responsibility of each and every citizen to make India HIV/AIDS free. She also requested TAAS President to give time slots for HIV/AIDS sessions in their ongoing training programmes and meetings which was taken positively by the President, TAAS, the release adds.

TAAS President, Lukendra Rasaily in his address supported the initiative taken up by SSACS and Serenity Home for the youth who are the future of our country. He mentioned that such programmes are important for people involved in the tourism sector because tourism has both negative and positive aspects.
“We can see that tourism is flourishing day by day and this shows that there is a huge number of tourist influx in the state and one cannot ignore the fact that it also brings along the threat of HIV/AIDS infection”, he added.

President, Serenity Home, Samita Sharma ended the programme with the vote of      thanks.