Chamba: National Youth Day celebrated

Himachal Pradesh: District level National Youth Day campaign was organized at Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College Chamba on Friday under the chairmanship of District AIDS Programme Officer Dr. Harit Puri. Around 120 MBBS second year trainee students participated in the program. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Harit Puri said that AIDS is an incurable disease and its complete cure is not possible yet. He informed that AIDS is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which weakens the immune system, making a person vulnerable to many diseases which are difficult to treat. However, if it is detected in time, a person suffering from HIV can live a long and healthy life with the help of ART (Antiretroviral Therapy).
Dr. Puri emphasized that AIDS can be controlled with proper awareness and advances in prevention, diagnosis and care have enabled people suffering from HIV to live a healthy and long life. Dr Puri also informed that there are around 7500 people living with HIV in Himachal Pradesh, of which 160 live in Chamba district. Currently, these individuals go to Tanda Medical College for ART medication, but soon this facility will be made available at the Government Medical College, Chamba. In addition, the government provides free bus travel to HIV positive individuals and one accompanying person to access ART services. Additionally, HIV positive individuals receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500.
According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), by 2030, 95 per cent of the population should know their HIV status, 95 per cent of diagnosed people should be on ART, and 95 per cent of people on ART should have a suppressed viral load. Dr Puri encouraged everyone to know their HIV status, which can be determined at Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs). In Chamba, ICTCs are available at Bharmour Civil Hospital, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Chamba, Tissa Civil Hospital, Kihar Civil Hospital and Chowari Civil Hospital. As part of the programme, a poster-making competition was organised for students. Mannat secured first position, Abid second and Dhruv third. All participants were awarded mementos. Health Educator Nirmala Thakur from the office of Chief Medical Officer Chamba, BCC Officer Deepak Joshi, Health Educator Lokinder Kumar from Medical College and other faculty members of Community Medicine Department were present at the event.