IUST’s Syed Mantaqi Memorial College of Nursing Commemorates World AIDS Day

Awantipora: Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora on Wednesday marked ‘World AIDS Day’in a One Day Seminar-cum-Workshop organised by Syed Mantaqi Memorial College of Nursing and Medical Technology (SMMCN&MT), IUST in collaboration with Jammu Kashmir AIDS Control Society (JKACS).

The event held under Red Ribbon Club programmes was themed as “End Inequalities, End AIDS, End Pandemics” in line with this year’s theme by UNAIDS.

Registrar IUST Prof. Naseer Iqbal, who was also the Chief Guest AT IUST appreciated the constituent Nursing Colleges of IUST for regularly organising events aimed at creating awareness in the society.

While emphasizing the importance of World AIDs Day, he stressed on the importance of educating general public about this deadly disease and also encouraged to play their role as responsible citizens and able nursing professionals of tomorrow.

Assistant Director (JKACS), Department of Health and Medical Education, Dr. Rumisa Shawl in her address emphasized the importance of this day and highlighted its role in generating an understanding about its epidemiology and also realising the prevalence of inequalities among AIDS patients.

She discussed the work done by health workers at JKAS and said, “JKACS is already providing all the facilities for AIDS patients at PHC’s, CHC’s and District hospitals further these facilities will be available at dispensaries and small rural areas for free of cost.”

Assistant Director JKACS, Department of Health and Medical Education J&K, Ms. Sabiha Iqbal while noting the importance of World AIDS Day focused upon the disparities.

Iqbal focussing on the laws and rights of people with HIV AIDS opined, “HIV- AIDS is a pandemic and how the stakeholders can eradicate the level of discrimination”.

Earlier Principal SMMCN&MT, IUST Ms. Asmat Parveen welcomed the speakers and participants and discussed the spread of HIV and status of the patients while referring to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics.

Parveen also lamented about the prevailing prejudice in the society regarding AIDS patients and provided some suggestions to tackle with this issue.

The students participated in various activities like debate, mask designing, painting, meme and gif competition to shed light on the theme,”End inequalities, End pandemics”, through various activities