SENSITISATION PROGRAMME ON HIV/AIDS & DRUG ABUSE FOR TAXI DRIVERS AND HOTELIERS

GANGTOK 12^th June 2013: Sikkim State AIDS Control Society organized a one day sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse for the Taxi Drivers and hoteliers of Rhenock periphery on 11^th June 2013 at Rhenock bazaar.

The programme was inaugurated by Shri Bhusan Adhikari, Panchayat Secretary cum General Secretary, Rhenock Driver’s Association. He welcomed the resource persons form SSACS, NGO and officer-in-charge from Rhenock Police station and requested the participants to support and co-operate such programmes for HIV/AIDS and DRUGS Free State.

Shri Namrata Sharma, Mainstreaming Officer, Sikkim State AIDS Control Society enlightened the participants on HIV/AIDS: Modes of transmission & prevention, Myths and misconception of HIV/AIDS. She stressed that people living with HIV/AIDS should not be stigmatized nor discriminated but should be supported, cared and treated well for living a normal and healthy life. She also informed about the free testing facilities at ICTC’s (Integrated counselling and testing centres) and PPTCT’s (Prevention from parent to child transmission) in districts hospitals, STNM, CRH (Manipal) as well as in 17 PHC’s in the state.

Shri Bikash Tewari, Officer-in-charge, Rhenock Police station highlighted the gathering on law and order that has to be maintained by the drivers. He also urged them to give police the right information if they find anyone suspicious about peddling drugs and drunken driving which is a serious cause for accidents as well as getting infected with viruses like HIV/AIDS which is the after effect of drug use and alcoholism.

Shri  Udai Chandra Rai, Founder, Serenity Home an NGO based in Gangtok addressed the gathering on drug abuse and alcoholism and informed the gathering that it is a disease and needs to be addressed as one. It is prevalent in all section of the society. He further stressed the importance of knowledge and awareness on these pertinent issues in order to successfully address, Arrest and minimize the ill effect of addiction and alcoholism. (PIB)