Deoghar Launches HIV and STI Awareness Drive to Cover 203 Villages and 93 Schools

Photo: RP

Deoghar: A district-wide awareness campaign on HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was launched at Sadar Hospital in Deoghar on Saturday under the direction of Civil Surgeon Dr S.P. Mishra. The initiative aims to spread awareness about prevention, timely testing and access to treatment across rural and urban areas of the district.

The programme began with an awareness rally that passed through various streets and public places in the city. Participants raised slogans highlighting the importance of HIV and STI prevention, early detection and timely medical care. A screening camp was also organised to provide information about testing and counselling services.

The campaign will cover 203 villages and 93 schools across the district. As part of the outreach initiative, awareness activities will also be conducted through door-to-door visits to 12,500 households. ASHA facilitators have been assigned responsibilities to ensure wider community participation.

Street plays, public interactions and other awareness programmes will be organised in villages and schools to provide accurate information about HIV and STIs and address misconceptions surrounding these infections.

District Tuberculosis-cum-AIDS Nodal Officer Dr Sanchayan, Dr Richa, District Programme Coordinator Praveen Singh, representatives of ART and ICTC centres, urban ASHA workers, ANMs and local residents participated in the launch programme.

The Health Department appealed to people not to associate fear or stigma with HIV and encouraged them to undergo timely testing and seek appropriate treatment. It also emphasised the need to ensure dignity, respect and support for people living with HIV, without any discrimination.