Correspondent
IMPHAL, September 27
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he state level Convention for Women Living with HIV & AIDS (WLHIVs) has appealed for cabinet approval of Manipur State AIDS Policy. It may be mentioned that the state AIDS policy was coined in 1996.
The state level convention which was held under the aegis of Women Action for Development (WAD) and Christian Network of Positive Women, Manipur also appealed for extension of MLA local area development fund to the WLHIVs and ensure departmental schemes and benefits to the PLHIVs in Manipur besides other life skill development programs for PLHIV.
The day’s convention was organized in an effort to increase knowledge and skills among the Women living with HIV (WLHIVs) and generate income among the WLHIVs for sustainable livelihood, health etc, impart discipline for respect towards each other besides enhancing the knowledge about tapping locally available resources and benefits.
Deputy Director Abhiram Mongjam of Manipur State AIDS Control Society(MACS), Secretary Udita Salam of Manipur Network of Positive people, MACS Umarjit and Secretary Sobita Mangsatabam of WAD attended the convention as chief guest, guest of honours and function president respectively.In her speech Udita said, the menace of the pandemic had been strategies under mainstreaming where entitlement schemes and benefits will be incorporated of all the departments. And for violation of women’s rights she suggested to approach and consult district free legal service aid. Umarjit supplemented Udita on the schemes and benefits and highlighted some of the progresses made on the inter-departmental meetings under the initiative of the Chief Secretary of the state government.
In his Speech Abhiram Mongjam stressed about the needs to update and upgrade the skills and livelihood means of the PLHIVs. Abhiram also narrated the initiations made by MACS on Care & Supports under RIAC, and launching of ART since 2004. Counseling is a must for PLHIV and also to OVC in order to stop unwanted consequences, he said. The need based care & support is required, as such MACS is watching what can be done in the best way and reflect in the Annual Budget for effective implementation etc.
