Patiala 24 September- Today, the District AIDS Prevention and Control Committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Civil Surgeon. The objective of this meeting was to review the activities of the National AIDS Control Programme in the district and further strengthen them.
During the meeting, the work of ICTC services such as HIV testing, early detection of newborns, counselling and linkage to treatment was reviewed. ART services, registration status, treatment adherence and addressing medium-term gaps were also discussed. Performance report of Targeted Intervention Projects for high-risk populations (FSW, MSM, IDU, TG) was presented.
Updates were also given on the utilization of Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) for injection drug users and STI/RTI services in DSRC clinics. Representatives from Disha Cluster, Patiala presented their monitoring and support activities and stressed the importance of coordination with all NACP facilities, grievance redressal and partnership with other departments.
The committee discussed strengthening partnerships with other government departments and extending the benefits of social security schemes to PLHIV, HRGs and vulnerable groups. It was also recommended to make HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns a part of government schemes.
Emphasis was placed on increasing outreach to schools, colleges and workplaces to make IEC (Information, Education and Communication) activities more effective. HRG groups and PLHIV representatives shared their issues, which the committee assured to prioritize in the next steps. The meeting concluded with a summary of key action points and future strategies.
District AIDS Control Officer Dr. Gurpreet Singh Nagra appreciated the contribution of all stakeholders and appealed for continued cooperation on HIV/AIDS prevention. On this occasion, Director Principal GMC Patiala Dr. Raminderpal Singh, Medical Superintendent Rajindra Hospital Dr. Vishal Chopra, DFPO Dr. Balkar Singh and the entire Disha Cluster team were present.