Celebration of World AIDS Day.

Agartala, Tripura, 1st December, 2024 : With the initiative of Tripura State AIDS Control Society Government of Tripura celebrated World AIDS Day at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala on Sunday (1st December, 2024).  In the presence of many dignitaries Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp.

“Public awareness should be given utmost importance in preventing HIV/AIDS. More workshops and discussion groups should be organized to make the youth especially aware of HIV/AIDS. Emphasis should also be placed on making students aware of HIV/AIDS and intravenous drug use through Red Ribbon Clubs in colleges and universities’, Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said at the celebration ceremony of World AIDS Day today. The Chief Minister said that the HIV/AIDS program was launched in the state in 1999. The Tripura State AIDS Control Society has been working in the state since 2000 to implement this program. Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers are functioning in 24 hospitals in the state, Facility Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers in 133 hospitals, three TPPP Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers and a Mobile Integrated Counseling and Testing Center Van for raising awareness, counseling and testing about HIV/AIDS.

The Chief Minister also added that a prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) Centre has been launched at Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS. This year, a total of 5663 female sex workers, 978 homosexuals, 7716 migrant workers, 3804 truck drivers, 132 transgenders and 8748 intravenous drug users are being treated by 13 TI NGOs and 2 Link Worker Schemes and 4 One Stop Centres under Tripura State AIDS Control Society.

Dr. Samarpita Dutta, Project Director of Tripura State AIDS control Society, Director of Family Welfare Department Dr. Anjan Das, Director of Tripura Health Services Dr. Sanjib Debbarma, Director of Social Welfare and Social Education Department Tapan Kumar Das and Additional Secretary of Health Department Rajib Dutta and many others remained present in this event. Two NGOs that have done good work in implementing awareness programs on HIV/AIDS were awarded on the stage of the program. The Chief Minister handed over trophies and certificates to the representatives of the NGOs as awards. The winners of the state-wide Red Run race organized on the occasion of World AIDS Day were also awarded at the program. The Chief Minister conferred Medals to the winners along with Rs. 20,000, Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 to the first, second and third place winners in the male and female categories respectively.

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