IMPHAL, May 20: Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Th Lokeshwor assured that state MLAs will do whatever it can to fulfill the need of people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Speaker stated this while speaking at the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial observation 2012 at Lamyanba Sanglen here today.
Assuring the community of the support of the Manipur Legislators Forum on AIDS in fighting stigma and discrimination and ensuring that marginal communities are mainstreamed, the Speaker commended the role played by the people affected by HIV and drug users in leading the struggle to ensure rights and reduce the spread of the HIV epidemic.
The theme of this year’s edition of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial was “Promoting Dignity and Health Together,” reinforcing the urgent need to protect rights of the marginalized populations to prevent HIV/AIDS.
Drawing attention of the Project Director, MACS, to the unfinished task of revising the state AIDS policy, Dr I Ibohalbi and former Deputy Director of Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS), said policies are a must in tackling issues like HIV/AIDS.
He also said, “The draft state AIDS policy needs to be tabled at the earliest and discussed threadbare so that our response to the epidemic is in tune with needs of the community. We need commitment and the gap between NGOs implementing HIV related programmes and MACS have to be bridged so that needs of vulnerable communities is addressed.”
Dr Sailesh Kumar Chourasia, Project Director, MACS said, “This observation gives us an opportunity to look at what we have achieved so far and more importantly chart a course to sustain the effort. Different departments need to come together if we want to respond to the epidemic in a holistic manner.”
Representing the recommendations by marginal communities, RK Nolinikanta, convenor, CoNE, stated, “Protecting human rights is the only way to fight HIV epidemic. Stigma and discrimination must lead to immediate action by all institutions responsible.”
He added, “Health care, education, law enforcement have a duty to protect rights of all citizens. Violations and inclusion result in IDUs and PLHIV communities being denied access to welfare schemes and that uniform state AIDS policy is the need of the hour for all marginalized communities.”
Wonchung, chairperson, Christian Network of Positive Women (CNPWM), said that welfare schemes like widow pension scheme and family benefit scheme doesn’t reach needy people. “There has to be transparency in delivering welfare benefits. Not only is awareness needed, but government officials also need to be accessible and deliver benefits in a time bound manner. They are accountable to people”.
Candles were lit at 16 market places in Imphal East and West, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts. In coordination with the All Manipur Christian Organization (AMCO) candlelight prayers were also held in a number of churches.
Results of the competition held on May 18 were declared and prizes distributed during the function held at LamyanbaSanglen today.
Towards promoting health and dignity, particularly for people living with HIV and AIDS and other communities, volunteers will campaign for improving service access, prevent rights violation and reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS, people who inject drugs, sex workers, Nupimanbi and other vulnerable communities.
The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2012 is being jointly organized by sixteen organizations- All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA), Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), Centre for Organization Research and Education (CORE), Human Rights Alert (HRA), Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA), Kuki Women Union (KWU), Kripa Society, Care Foundation, Lifeline Foundation, Dedicated People’s Union (DPU), Manipur Cycle Club (MCC), Coalition Against Drug Abuse and Alcoholism (CADA), Christian Network of Positive Women of Manipur (CNPWM), All Manipur Nupimanbi Association (AMANA), Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India (SAATHII).