The Himachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society conducted an orientation meeting on Wednesday for all Deputy Directors of the Education Department. The meeting was presided over by Project Director Rajiv Kumar. He said that primary objective of this meeting was to educate students across the state about HIV/AIDS through the Education Department. He emphasized that having comprehensive knowledge about HIV would enable the youth and children to lead healthy and happy lives.
He said that, keeping in view the high percentage of HIV infections among the youth in the state, the State AIDS Control Society is implementing large-scale awareness initiatives. Under the ‘Adult Education Programme’, the committee has introduced an 18-hour course in 1,997 schools. This course provides detailed, age-appropriate information about HIV to students of class 9 to class 12.
The project director stated that, as part of the ‘Adult Education Programme’, 3,994 teachers have been trained through District Education Training Institutes. He urged the participants to fully support the State AIDS Control Society’s efforts to protect children and youth from harmful risks such as HIV and drug abuse. Additionally, he directed all Deputy Directors to create a year-long plan for awareness programmes about HIV.
