As many as 28,000 PLHIVs (People Living with HIV) are accessing Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in the state. Out of it, 6000 of them are women and 1000 are children, Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) official Phanjoubam Langamba said in Imphal on Wednesday.
"Manipur was once recorded as having the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rate in the country. And it is still placed in third position after Mizoram and Nagaland according to the 2021 survey report. More effort is necessary to eliminate HIV and AIDS from the state," the MACS assistant director (documentation and publicity) said at a one-day workshop for women journalists on HIV/AIDS ethics and media reporting held in Imphal on Wednesday.
People should be motivated to live a healthy life, Langamba added.
The workshop, organised by the All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) in collaboration with the MACS, was held under the theme ‘Stop the Spread’, at the Manipur Press Club.
Addressing the inaugural function, Babina Group of Companies director Thangjam Dhabali said the role of media is essential in the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission. The stigma and discrimination associated with infection of HIV and AIDS have been reduced drastically in the state of Manipur. However, it still exists, resulting in becoming a major hindrance in ending the HIV and AIDS problem from the state.
AMWJU president Wangkhemcha Shamjai said the stigma of HIV/AIDS is reduced compared to 10 years ago. However, the state is ranked third in India and hence, there is a need for more caution in reporting to educate the public, he added.
As a resource person of workshop, senior journalist, Pradip Phanjoubam spoke on Media’s role in reporting HIV/AIDS issues and senior journalist Ahongsangbam Mobi spoke on media’s role in curbing spread HIV/AIDS in Manipur.
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