Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb 11: The Andaman & Nicobar AIDS Control Society (ANACS) organized an Inter-Departmental / Joint Working Group Meeting on 10th February 2026, bringing together twenty-four representatives from various departments to strengthen the collective response to the prevention and control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Dr. Subrata Saha, Project Director, ANACS, in his keynote address, congratulated the departments that have taken initiatives to integrate the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) with their ongoing departmental programmes, as discussed during the previous inter-departmental meeting held on 29th October 2024.
Veer Savarkar International Airport (AAI) organized an HIV and STI awareness session for its staff along with a screening camp. As part of a campaign initiative, awareness messages were displayed on the Flight Information Display System (FIDS) LED boards at the airport. The Department of Accounts & Budget conducted an HIV and STI awareness session and a blood donation camp during the celebration of Civil Accounts Day. The Directorate of Transport organized HIV and STI awareness sessions and screening camps within the department. Awareness posters were displayed on and inside STS buses, at enquiry counters, and at bus stands. Additionally, HIV awareness messages are now being printed on e-bus tickets by the A&N STS Department. The Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Garacharama, and the Police Training School, Prothrapur, organized awareness sessions for their staff. The Department of RD, PRIs and ULBs, along with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Unit ISTRAC, Dollygunj, conducted awareness sessions and screening camps for their officials and staff. The Department of Education has also incorporated sessions on HIV and STIs into the training module for teachers from various zones under the School Health & Wellness Programme (SHP) under Ayushman Bharat.
Dr. Subrata Saha further emphasized that HIV and AIDS are not merely health issues but are influenced by various socio-economic factors and require a collaborative effort from all departments, institutions, and organizations. Such coordinated action can enhance stakeholder accountability, strengthen referral linkages, improve service delivery, and accelerate efforts to reduce new HIV infections.
Through a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation, Dr. Jahanara Yasmeen, Deputy Director (MS & IEC), ANACS, presented a strategic roadmap for the effective implementation of HIV-related interventions aligned with existing departmental programmes. She outlined practical, action-oriented strategies for integrating HIV prevention, awareness generation, testing, counselling, and referral services into departmental activities, emphasizing shared responsibility and sustained collaboration to eliminate new HIV cases.
Participants were also informed about the provisions of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, and the HIV and AIDS Policy for Establishments, 2022. It was reiterated that every person in charge of an establishment must ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act.
The agenda of the meeting was to ensure effective integration of NACP within departmental programmes and to operationalize the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and various Ministries/Departments. To further strengthen accountability and address issues related to stigma and discrimination, participating departments were requested to nominate Complaints Officer to handle HIV-related grievances in a confidential and time-bound manner.
The participants were representatives from Dept. of RD, PRI & ULBs; Dept of Pay & Accounts; Anti Corruption Unit; PTS, Prothrapur; Dept of Education; Dept. of Transport; Dept. of Shipping Service; Dept of Health Services; CISF UNIT, ISTRAC; Dept of Tribal Welfare; Dept of Tourism; Dept of Disaster Management; Dept. of Fisheries; Dept of Social Welfare; Zilla Parishad; Dept, of Electricity; Dept of Forest; Dept of Economics & Statistics; Dept. of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, BSNL; Airtel and Vodafode.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Jahanara Yasmeen, Deputy Director (MS & IEC), ANACS.
