From Silchar to 120 Villages: Cachar Begins Intensified HIV/AIDS Campaign

The Intensified Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign on HIV/AIDS was formally launched in Cachar at Guru Charan University, Silchar, on Wednesday (September 2), with health officials and students calling for greater awareness about HIV prevention, testing, treatment and the need to reduce stigma.

The campaign, which began on September 2, will continue till October 17 and aims to reach around 120 villages across Cachar district. The launch had initially been planned earlier but was delayed due to the recent floods in Assam.

The inaugural programme was attended by Dr Sumana Naiding, Joint Director of Health, Cachar; Vice-Chancellor of Guru Charan University Professor Niranjan Roy; the university’s Red Ribbon Club Coordinator; and Cluster Programme Manager of DISHA Cachar, Anup Kumar Dutta.

The District Commissioner, Cachar, was scheduled to formally launch the campaign but was unable to attend the programme.

Addressing the gathering, Naiding spoke about the dangers associated with HIV and the importance of spreading correct information among communities. She briefly explained the objective of the Intensified IEC Campaign and said that this year’s initiative in Cachar would focus on reaching 120 villages.

Professor Roy spoke about the history of HIV and AIDS and linked the importance of knowledge with the concept of Panchakosha. He explained the different layers of Panchakosha before stressing the role of knowledge in understanding HIV, its transmission and ways of preventing infection.

Roy also highlighted the risks associated with HIV and the importance of being informed about how and why the virus spreads. He stressed the importance of prevention, using the principle, “prevention is better than cure”.

Anup Kumar Dutta, Cluster Programme Manager of DISHA Cachar, provided statistical and programme-related information about the campaign. He said the initiative under the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) began across the country in 2024, when 10 districts of Assam were covered.

According to Dutta, Cachar and the then Karimganj district, now known as Sribhumi, were among those 10 districts. Both districts performed well in the campaign and later received official recognition from the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) for their awareness efforts.

The Intensified IEC Campaign is being expanded by covering more districts and communities so that information about HIV prevention can reach people who may be vulnerable to infection. The campaign focuses on awareness, prevention and encouraging people to seek appropriate testing and treatment.

Following the inaugural programme, a short foot rally was organised with students. Members of the Red Ribbon Club of the university and NGOs associated with ASACS’s HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives also participated in the rally.

The first two awareness camps under the campaign were subsequently held at Ghoniwala Club in the Ghoniwala area and Dudhpatil Club in the Dudhpatil area. At both locations, local residents attended awareness sessions conducted by the District Resource Person, along with members of Desha Bandhu Club.

NACO is the national organisation responsible for implementing India’s National AIDS Control Programme, while ASACS works at the state level to coordinate HIV/AIDS prevention, awareness and related programmes in Assam. DISHA functions as part of ASACS’s efforts to take HIV/AIDS awareness and communication initiatives to communities.

With the launch on September 2, the third Intensified IEC Campaign in Cachar is now underway. The initiative will focus on taking HIV/AIDS awareness messages directly to communities across the district until October 17.