Port Blair, May 1: The Andaman & Nicobar AIDS Control Society (ANACS) organized an Orientation and Capacity Building programme for the youth of “Red Ribbon Club” (RRC) of Andaman Law College, Port Blair on Prevention and Control of HIV & AIDS on 01st May 2024. More than100 youth were present for the orientation programme.
The programme was organized under the leadership of Dr. Subrata Saha, Project Director, A&N AIDS Control Society.
The programme was conducted with the support of Dr. S Jayakumar, Principal I/c, Andaman Law College.
Dr. Jahanara Yasmeen, DD (IEC), Shri. Kaushik Kumar Halder, AD (IEC) and Shri. Santosh Baghel, AD (Documentation) were the resource persons. Youth were given information on the objectives of RRC and its roles and responsibilities in prevention and control of STI, HIV & AIDS including its transmission, prevention, and treatment. Additionally, interactive sessions and discussions were conducted to address common misconceptions and myths. The provisions under the HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act, 2017 to protect the human rights of persons infected and affected by the HIV and Syndrome was also discussed. The information was given through power point presentation and short videos.
Shri. Rajiv Mondal, Director of Physical Education who is the Nodal Officer (RRC) of the institute, coordinated the entire programme. He also encouraged the students to increase the membership in the Red Ribbon Club and voluntary blood donation.
The programme was an initiative to educate youth and encourage them to learn about safe and healthy lifestyles, give access to information on HIV & AIDS, and also educate them about voluntary blood donation and safe sexual behaviors.
The orientation programme concluded with a pledge-taking ceremony, wherein participants vowed to spread awareness about HIV & AIDS within their communities and actively support initiatives aimed at combating the syndrome.