Port Blair, Jan.23: Second meeting of Joint Working Group (JWG) for the Departments was conducted on 22.01.2018 at the Seminar hall of JNRM, 19 representatives of various departments/institutions were present for the meeting.
At the national level Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between 16 Ministries and National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
Dr. M. Joy, Project Director, A & N AIDS Control Society (ANACS) welcomed the participants and gave an over view of HIV/AIDS and various issues surrounding this dreadful syndrome.
He also explained the objective of signing MoUs with various key Ministries/ Departments of Government of India, their role and responsibilities to fight this syndrome. HIV/AIDS is not only a Health issue but also a social problem which needs to be addressed with a joint action of different sections of the society. Since this syndrome associated with stigma and discrimination, the non-health sectors can play a very important role towards achieving the objective, ‘Know your status’ and implementing the policy of test and treat for which ANACS is having sufficient testing facility and stock of ART medicines.
The protection of afflicted by HIV is further ensured by “HIV/AIDS prevention Act 2017”
The Department of Shipping; Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development; Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports; Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports; Ministry of Coal; Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation; Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas; Department of Defence under the Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Road Transport & Highways; Department of Electronics & Information Technology; Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology; Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment ; Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development ; Ministry of Labour and Employment and Department of Internal Security/ Ministry of Home Affairs has signed the MoUs with NACO.