Patiala News:Health Minister launches Intensified IEC Campaign-2026 in Punjab

People to be sensitised about HIV/AIDS through door-to-door outreach during the two-month campaign

Punjab Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education and Research Minister Dr. Balbir Singh today launched the state-level event of the Intensified IEC Campaign 3.0 of the Punjab AIDS Control Society at Punjabi University, Patiala, and stated that the campaign will be conducted across Punjab from August 12 to October 12, with the objective of increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS, motivating people for timely testing and treatment, and spreading the message of staying away from drugs.

Dr. Balbir Singh said that under this campaign, around 2,000 children from 23 districts participated in various competitions, in which the winning children were honoured with awards. He said that to keep youth away from drugs, the government is developing sports grounds as well as providing treatment, counselling and rehabilitation services through de-addiction centres. He said that special awareness activities will be conducted in 12,997 schools and 1,475 colleges across the state under the campaign. Besides, counsellors will conduct door-to-door awareness regarding HIV/AIDS in 2,000 villages, and rallies, flash mobs and other activities will also be organised.

The Health Minister said that discrimination against persons affected by HIV is a legal offence. He said that the objective of the government is not only prevention of HIV but also to provide an environment for affected persons to live their lives with dignity. He appealed to the youth to stay away from drugs, engage in sports and also sensitise their peers about HIV/AIDS.

He said that free services for the prevention and treatment of HIV in Punjab are being provided through 114 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres, 27 Anti-Retroviral Therapy Centres, 31 Designated STI/RTI Clinics, 71 Targeted Intervention Projects, 49 Oral Substitution Therapy Centres, 36 De-addiction Centres, 15 Rehabilitation Centres and 548 Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment Clinics.

On this occasion, Mr. Kumar Rahul, Principal Secretary, Mrs. Sakshi Sahni, Special Secretary, Navreet Sekhon, ADC Patiala, Dr. Jagdeep Singh, Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University Patiala, Dr. Sunil Bansal, Director PHSC, Dr. Avnish Sharma, DRME, Punjab, Dr. Anil Goel, Director ESI Punjab, Dr. Shelly Jetley Ji, Civil Surgeon Patiala, Dr. Vishal Garg, Additional Project Director, Punjab State AIDS Control Society, Mrs. Pawan Rekha Berri, Joint Director (IEC), Dr. Sukhwinder, Joint Director (BSD), Dr. Sunita Bhagat, Joint Director (BTS) and Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Joint Director (CST), and other officers were present.