Patna: On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) organized an HIV/AIDS awareness rally, the Red Ribbon Walk, on Monday. The march began at Eco Park and concluded at Veer Kunwar Singh Azadi Park, followed by an awareness program attended by government officials, health workers, community groups, and youth volunteers.
Chief Secretary Stresses Dignified, Non-Discriminatory Healthcare
Addressing the participants as chief guest, Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit emphasized that ensuring accessible and discrimination-free healthcare for people living with HIV remains a top priority for the state government.
He highlighted the state’s ongoing commitment to controlling HIV transmission despite global and local challenges such as resource constraints, stigma, and disruptions caused by emergencies.
“No person should be left untreated. Every HIV-positive individual deserves respect and equal access to quality healthcare,” he said.
Theme Focuses on Overcoming Barriers in AIDS Response
This year’s World AIDS Day theme—“Overcoming Disruption: Transforming the AIDS Response”—underscored the need to continue prevention, treatment, and awareness efforts even in the face of pandemics, socio-economic barriers, and persistent stigma.
BSACS Highlights Progress in HIV Prevention and Treatment
Project Director Pratibha Rani noted that BSACS, working for over 26 years in prevention, testing, and treatment, has made significant progress in reducing HIV infections and expanding care services.
She informed that Bihar currently operates 186 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) and 32 Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres, which collectively support around 97,000 HIV-positive individuals with free and regular ARV medications.
Welfare Schemes Supporting Affected Families
Joint Director Manoj Kumar Sinha highlighted two key government welfare initiatives:
- Bihar Shatabdi AIDS Peedit Kalyan Yojana
- Parvarish Yojana
These schemes provide financial and social support to HIV-affected families, boosting security, dignity, and quality of life.
Broad Participation Reflects Growing Awareness
The event saw active participation from the Health Department, UNICEF, community organizations, NGOs, media, youth groups, and the general public—signaling growing awareness and collective responsibility toward combating HIV/AIDS in the state.
