Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh flagged off six Mobile Integrated Counselling & Testing Centre (ICTC) vans from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Monday.
The six mobile ICTC vans will be operated in four valley districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, and Thoubal, and two hill districts: Churachandpur and Senapati.
The mobile ICTC consists of a van with a room to conduct a general examination and counselling and a space for the collection and processing of blood samples, etc. A mobile ICTC consisting of a team of paramedical health-care providers (a health educator/ANM, counsellor, and LT) can set up a temporary clinic with flexible working hours in hard-to-reach areas, where services are provided ranging from regular health check-ups, syndromic treatment for STI/reproductive tract infection (RTI) and other minor ailments, antenatal care, immunisation, as well as HIV counselling and testing services.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stated that the problems of the drug menace in Manipur could not be solved only by catching drugs and destroying poppy plantations; rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts are also necessary.
The Chief Minister stated that there has been a decline in HIV prevalence, however, there is still a need for proper treatment of the infected persons.
He continued that the six vans had been procured by the Manipur Aids Control Society (MACS) through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
N. Biren continued that the mobile van will also provide for other hill districts, however, a smaller van would be used considering the narrow roads. He appealed to the public to stay away from drugs, as they had affected people’s lives in many ways.
