Training for Red-Ribbon Club nodal officers held

Chamba, August 27

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A day-long training programme for the nodal officers and peer educators of Red Ribbon Clubs from various educational institutions of Chamba district was organised on Tuesday at district headquarters.

During the training, District AIDS Programme Officer Dr Harit Puri emphasised the importance of the Red Ribbon Club’s activities throughout the year, including International Youth Day, World AIDS Day and International Women’s Day. These programmes are primarily aimed at raising awareness among the people, especially those aged between 15 and 49, who are more vulnerable to HIV. He instructed participants to submit quarterly reports to the CMO’s office on time.

The training session included detailed discussions on the causes of HIV/AIDS, prevention methods and anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Dr Puri informed the attendees that anyone could get their HIV status checked at the nearest Integrated Counseling and Testing Center (ICTC) and could obtain information by dialing the toll-free number: 1097. He also encouraged participants to download the NACO app and follow the HP State Aids Control Society.

He said HIV testing facilities were available at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba, along with civil hospitals in Bharmour, Kihar and Chowari.

Dr Puri highlighted the government’s target to ensure that by 2030, 95 per cent of the population should be aware of their HIV status, 95 per cent of the HIV-positive individuals should be on ART, and 95 per cent of those on therapy should have a suppressed viral load.

Students and nodal officers from the Government Colleges Chamba, Salooni, Chowari, Tissa, Chhatrari and Bharmour and Government Polytechnic College, Banikhet; Government Millennium Polytechnic, Chamba; District Institute of Education and Training, Saru; and DAV College, Banikhet, participated in the training programme.