Dibrugarh: State health and family welfare minister Ashok Singhal on Wednesday launched a state-level, 60-day intensive information, education and communication (IEC) campaign on HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the Dibrugarh District Library.Organised by the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS), the campaign will cover 3,900 villages and 500 slum areas across all 35 districts of Assam. It aims to improve public understanding of HIV transmission, reduce stigma and discrimination, and encourage people to access testing, prevention, counselling and treatment services.Launching the campaign, Singhal stressed the importance of disseminating accurate information about HIV and ensuring that people living with HIV are treated with dignity and without discrimination.“The campaign is not merely about creating awareness. It is about empowering people with the right information, encouraging them to seek timely services and creating a supportive environment for those affected by HIV,” Singhal said.He said the campaign would also focus on educating people about the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, and creating greater awareness among pregnant women and women attending antenatal care about HIV and syphilis.The minister urged people to make use of HIV testing, condoms, STI care and other services available under the National AIDS Control Programme. He also highlighted the 1097 National AIDS Toll-Free Helpline as an important source of information and assistance.The campaign will include awareness and sensitisation meetings in villages, with the participation of local residents, Gaon Burhas and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Educational institutions will also be major centres of the campaign, which will target 500 schools and 200 colleges.Red Ribbon Clubs will be established in colleges and universities. Activities including lectures, interactive workshops, poster-making competitions, quizzes, extempore speeches, human chains, and HIV-themed reels and short films will also be organised.As part of the initiative, 100 special camps will be held at government hospitals to provide free HIV and STI testing, counselling and treatment services.The campaign will also use radio, television, newspapers, street plays, hoardings, kiosks, bus branding, mobile IEC vans and rallies to disseminate key messages. Social media outreach will be used to reach young people and wider sections of society.Rajya Sabha MP Jogen Mohan, minister for tea tribes and adivasi welfare Rameswar Teli, Khowang MLA Chakradhar Gogoi and senior health officials attended the launch. A short documentary on the campaign was also screened.
