Mainstreaming Workshop on HIV / AIDS By A & N AIDS Control Society.

Port Blair 5 Apr : A & N AIDS Control Society is functioning under the supervision and guidance of the Project Director. A workshop was conducted on HIV/AIDS, STD, Blood Donation motivation and Condom Promotion at Community Hall, Dairy Farm on 03.04.2021 at 10.30 am.
The programmes are conducted under the leadership of Dr. M. Joy, Project Director, ANACS. The awareness campaign among sanitary workers is conceived to get the people at the last mile for creating an awareness regarding HIV/AIDS and its prevention.

Shri Girish Kumar AD (SPM) briefed the gathering about HIV/AIDS, occurrences, spread, treatment and HIV/AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act, 2017.The knowledge of preventing, discrimination and stigma against HIV/AIDS. Also motivated the gathering for Voluntary Blood Donation, shared the importance and benefits of blood donation. Youths are important target group who need to know all about HIV/AIDS. 90 participants attended the programme. A large number of them were sanitary inspectors and sanitary workers from PBMC.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the white blood cells called CD4 cells. HIV destroys these CD4 cells, weakening a person’s immunity against infections such as tuberculosis and some cancers. If the person’s CD4 cell count falls below 200, their immunity is severely compromised, leaving them more susceptible to infections. Someone with a CD4 count below 200 is described as having AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV can be diagnosed using simple and affordable rapid diagnostic tests, as well as self-tests. It is important that HIV testing services follow the 5Cs: consent, confidentiality, counseling, correct results and connection with treatment and other services.

We aim to reach out to people in the community and test them where they are, with proper counseling and consent. The programme was concluded with a question and answer and the testing of “Community based Screening (CBS)” for the participants present in the workshop and 83 participants came forward for “Knowing their HIV Status” by voluntarily getting themselves tested which will be kept confidential.

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