Manipur Legislators resolve to make AIDS free state

Imphal, Jun 30 (UNI) The legislators of Manipur today resolved to make Manipur an AIDS free-state.

Manipur is one of the states having high AIDS prevalence in the country.

The first conference of legislative forum on HIV/AIDS was held today at Legislative Assembly which was addressed by Governor S S Sidhu, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Union minister of state for Labour Oscar Fernandes and Convenor of Parliamentary forum on AIDS Dr S Buddhichandra, Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Dennis Broun, country coordinator, UNAIDS, India.

The Governor said considering the high rates of AIDS in Manipur, he had decided to discuss the issue with NGOs associated with AIDS once every month. ''It had resulted in activation of AIDS-related activities and improved health care.'' He said various tests were to be made available to the patients.

Mr Fernandes said we need to educate all about the matter and even doctors need to be educated about the issue. Many doctors deny treatment to AIDS fearing that other patients may not come to them, he added.

Many health centers do not have testing centers, medicines throughout the country and hence the Parliamentary Forum on AIDS was formed. He assured that the forum will provide all kind of assistance.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said the laws will be suitably amended to ensure that maximum benefit was given to the patients.

The local and Panchayat bodies will be involved in the fight against AIDS he said.

The legislators discussed the Imphal declaration of legislators at length and resolved that the youths and the children should be involved in the movement. It further resolved that the movement should be a mass movement rather than confining to movement of state agencies and NGOs.

UNI