It is a moment of great pride that important suggestions suggested for HIV prevention i.e. the awareness among the people of taking a pledge and for the implementation the work is carried out at the grass root level in Goa. Other than treatment, the most important thing is the awareness among the youths, said Governor of Goa, Shri. P. S. Sreedharan Pillai.
He was speaking at “AIDS Awareness Pledge by Youth of Goa ” programme organised at the Raj Bhavan on the occasion of World Aids Day. The programme was organised in association with Goa State AIDS Control Society and of Vidhya Prabodhini College of Commerce, Education, computer and Management, Porvorim, today. The pledge was administered by the Governor.
Appreciating the initiative taken by the Vidhya Prabodhini College to spread AIDS awareness among the people, Shri Pillai requested the youth of Goa to come forward voluntarily to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS.
He said that the World Health Organisation has suggested taking a pledge in order to promote the eradication of contagious diseases like the plague, TB, and other such diseases. In the beginning of the 21st century we are facing AIDS, Covid – 19 and other Viruses as a challenge. For such challenges there is no foolproof remedy under the modern medicine system. So under such circumstances it is the need of the hour to spread awareness among the people about such diseases, he pointed.
Recalling his days working as a Governor of Mizoram Shri Pillai said, while working in Mizoram in his studies I realised that the sexual relation is not the only main reason behind the HIV or Aids transmission but the use of various drugs and other things can be the main villain. As Mizoram is close to Myanmar (Burma), people have free access to Myanmar (Burma). People can easily travel either side freely, without any passport, and hence drug paddling has increased and that is the main reason behind the increasing rate of HIV in some parts of Mizoram.
Also present were the Vice Chancellor of Goa University Harilal B. Menon, Registrar of Goa University Senior Prof. V. S. Nadkarni, Secretary to Governor Shri R. Mihir Vardhan, IAS (Retd.), Joint Secretary to Governor, Shri Gaurish J Shankhwalkar, ADC to Governor Shri Vishram Borkar & Lt. Darshan N. Sankaraddi, Director of Directorate of Higher Education Shri. Prasad Lolyekar, Project Director of Goa State Aids Control Society Dr. Geeta Kakodkar, Professor of Vidhya Prabodhini College Dr. Bhushan Bhave and other dignitaries.
Students of Vidhya Prabodhini College and students of other colleges all across Goa having NSS and Red Ribbon Club in their institution virtually attended the formal function and took the AIDS Awareness Pledge.
Also 40 HIV children visited the Raj Bhavan Co-ordinated by Human Touch Foundation. Governor interacted with the children and staff of the foundation and also had lunch with them.
