Imphal: A rally was organised in Manipur’s Chandel district, which shares a border with Myanmar to the south, on Friday to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and promote a disease-free society.
The event was held under the aegis of the District Integrated Strategy for HIV/AIDS as part of the Integrated IEC Campaign 3.0.
The Deputy Commissioner of Chandel, Mamoni Doley, flagged off the rally from the DC Complex. The procession moved through Chandel Bazaar Headquarters before concluding at the SDO Chandel Compound.
The initiative was organised by the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), Chandel, with support from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and the Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS).
This year, the campaign was centred around the theme, “Together for an HIV/AIDS Free Society.”
According to the organisers, the primary objective of the rally was to strengthen Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities across the region.
The campaign sought to educate the public about HIV/AIDS prevention methods while addressing the challenges of social stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
The programme was conducted under the supervision of Dr. B. Cingdeihnieng, the District AIDS Control Officer (DACO) of Chandel.
The event saw a large and diverse turnout, including officials and staff from DAPCU, Health Department personnel, local police, ASHA workers, students and community volunteers.
Throughout the march, participants carried placards and banners displaying messages to educate the public about HIV/AIDS prevention and healthcare management.