Srinagar: A training program on HIV/AIDS, STDs, and the HIV/AIDS Act, 2017 for ASHA Coordinators from various districts and blocks of the Kashmir division was successfully conducted Friday by the J&K AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the National Health Mission, J&K, and with the support of the Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH, and Immunization, J&K.
Around 10 District ASHA Coordinators and 20 Block ASHA Coordinators were sensitized on the fundamentals of HIV/AIDS and the related issues by the expert speakers from the J&K AIDS Control Society.
The training program, an initiative under the Intensified IEC campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness in Jammu and Kashmir, was inaugurated by Dr. Jehangir Bakshi, Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society (chief guest of the event) in the presence of Dr Poonam Sethi, Director, Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization, J&K, and UT Nodal Officer, NHM, J&K, along with Associate Program Manager, ASHA NHM, J&K.
Dr Bakshi highlighted the objectives of the Intensified IEC campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness and the role of the ASHAs in facilitating the campaign.
The trained ASHA Coordinators will further train the ASHAs under them who shall have to conduct door to door outreach to the households under their supervision with the awareness messages on HIV/ AIDS and the related issues.
Dr Monika Wali, Dy. Director, CST highlighted the role of ASHA Coordinators in facilitating the IEC campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness. Imtiyaz Khan, AD Lab Services, delivered a lecture on the fundamentals of HIV/AIDS, Dr Malooqa, imparted awareness on the basics of STDs followed by an orientation lecture on the HIV/AIDS Act, 2017 by Sabiha Iqbal, Assistant Director, Mainstreaming, JKACS.
Other officers/officials who attended the program included Dr. Tabasum Firdous, Dy. Director, Headquarters; Dr. Rumissa Shawl, Dy. Director; IEC, Dr. Monika Wali, Dy. Director CST; Nisaar Dar, DD Prevention; AD BTS; AD Finance; AD Procurement from J&K AIDS Control Society and official from DHS Kashmir.
The programme concluded with certificate distribution among the participants.
