FOR the first time Manipur has a good news on the HIV front. The number of victims is not increasing. In fact, it has shown a declining trend. “In 1998, the prevalence rate of the disease was 70 to 80 per cent but it is around 40 per cent today,” says Dr S Sukumar, project director, Manipur AIDS Control Society.

He attributes the development to the campaign against using used syringes and syringe exchanges by drug addicts. An estimated 15,584 were tested HIV positive during September 1986 to July this year, according to Sukumar, who spoke at a day-long advocacy meeting of journalists on family health awareness campaign held at the Manipur Press Club.

Aids has claimed 344 lives in the state. Of them 53 are women. State Health Chief Ch Chandramani told the journalists that the need of the hour is the pro-active role by media in developing ‘health behaviour’.

In a move to mobilise family health awareness across the State, a fortnight-long campaign was held across from September 16 till the end of this month. It covered almost all the 3000 villages in the State. “For the smooth conduct of the awareness programme nearly 380 medical officers, 1600 nurses and around 1000 Anganwadi workers were deployed after necessary training,” the director said. President, All Manipur Working Journalists Union, Wangkhemcha Shyamjai has offered full support of the local media in the fight against AIDS.

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