ITANAGAR, Nov 11: Awareness can boost fight against HIV and AIDS, said Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein during the multi-media campaign grand finale of Red Rockfest at Dree Ground here on Saturday.  

Mein said the state government has launched the multi-media campaign to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS among the vulnerable sections of the society. The government has capitalized on the popularity of local entertainment avenues through musical concert as well as sports activities, he said and added that the music belted out is for a serious social cause.  Such programmes not only help spread the message of love, care and compassion to the people who are affected with HIV but also create awareness to the general public in regards to mode of transmission and method of prevention, DCM added. 

Mein called upon the youths to play a pivotal role in creating awareness among the masses of their respective villages regarding ways and means to combat the spread of HIV/ AIDS.  The State government will give all support to the health department to work more rigorously among  public  for wide awareness on HIV/AIDS and substance abuse, he said and underlined the need for checking  all transit points of drug smuggling.

Health and Family Welfare Minister  Alo Libang said the fight against HIV and AIDS would get a major boost if awareness on disease prevention could be publically spread. The multimedia campaign has successfully placed the issue of HIV and AIDS among young people through the musical concert, and has brought significant attention to the force for change that young people represent in reversing the course of the epidemic, he added

Director of Health Services cum vice chairman of APSACS, Dr M. Lego said HIV is a disease that  anyone can contract and that is why it is important for youths to be aware of how to protect themselves and prevent the transmission of HIV.

Project Director, APSACS Dr Riken Rina in his brief introduction on MMC said the 6th music campaign with the tagline “Yes to Life! A musical journey against HIV/AIDS” was launched from Yingkiong on September 14  by Alo Libang which culminated on November 10 with the grand finale of Red Rockfest here at Itanagar. 

He said that the winner of the Red Rockfest would become the MMC brand ambassador of APSACS for next one year and also represent the state in regional level rock concert competition to be held in Kohima, Nagaland in February 2019 where all the winners from 8 NE states will compete each other for the title of NE Champion.

Earlier, Mein accompanied by Libang gave away the cash prize of Rs. 50,000  to the winner ‘The Megh’. AR01 and The Demon were adjudged first and second runners up who received Rs 30,000 and Rs 20000. The Heatstroke band was given the consolation prize of Rs. 10 000. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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