Ahead of AIDS Day, Integrated Health Camp Resumes in Cachar with Renewed Vigor

An important health initiative made its return today in Gumra Bazar, Cachar, marking the restart of the Integrated Health Camp by the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) in partnership with the District Health Society, Cachar. This campaign, temporarily paused due to unavoidable circumstances after reaching 18 villages, is now back on track, aiming to bring essential healthcare services to 100 villages across the district by February 2025.

Today, a diverse team of healthcare workers, including ICTC counsellors, lab technicians, and personnel from the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), and Care Support Centre (CSC), gathered to deliver vital screenings to 50 attendees. The DISHA team also played a key role, providing on-ground support and monitoring to ensure the camp ran smoothly.

These camps offer free screenings for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis (TB), and Blood Pressure, crucial tests designed to detect life-altering infections and manage chronic conditions early. HIV testing, for instance, is critical in the fight against AIDS, a virus that has tragically impacted millions globally and continues to be a pressing public health issue in Assam. Syphilis, Hepatitis, and TB tests help detect and control the spread of these other serious infections, while BP screening helps identify those at risk for heart-related ailments.

In Cachar, this campaign is part of a larger mission by ASACS to raise awareness and reduce the transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases, especially in underserved areas. The organisation’s dedication to eradicating HIV from Assam has seen projects like these taking shape all over the state, bringing healthcare closer to the people who need it most.

This camp marks a renewal of ASACS’s commitment to its goal, which recently concluded an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign across Cachar and the rest of Assam. With this latest phase underway, the organisation hopes to bridge any remaining gaps, reaffirming the importance of awareness and safety in fighting diseases that still threaten our communities.

Over the coming months, as these integrated health camps expand their reach, they will provide vital screenings and medical support to thousands more, empowering individuals to take control of their health and join the fight for a healthier, safer society.

With World AIDS Day just a few weeks away, this campaign’s restart holds a special significance. Observed annually on 1st December, World AIDS Day is a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS, encouraging communities worldwide to unite in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting those affected by the virus. By restarting this project just before AIDS Day, ASACS and the District Health Society aim to honour the day’s message by extending critical health services across Cachar. This renewed effort seeks to reinforce the importance of vigilance, testing, and education as essential tools in the battle against HIV/AIDS, striving to create a healthier and more informed society.