AIDS prevention educators receive national award

Muana
Mizzima News: 06 December, 2006

The Samaritan Society of Mizoram devoted to the cause of prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS among Burmese migrants has been awarded the "UNAIDS CIVIL SOCIETY AWARD 2006", India's National Award on World AIDS day for its outstanding work.

The award was given for educating migrants in preventing HIV/AIDS and other related diseases. The Samaritan Society received the award for its selfless service to migrants in Mizoram, in a national stadium in New Delhi on December 1. A trophy and cash award of Rs. 30,000 was handed over to Lalhrima Sailo, president of SSM in a gala ceremony attended by Union Ministers and celebrities in India.

The Samaritan Society received the award for its outstanding performance in covering 6,526 people between April 2002 to October 2006. The society received projects from Mizoram State AIDS Control Society to cover 3,100 people during this period.

"The award is for Mizoram state not only for Samaritan Society. There should be more alliances and cooperation among the NGO's working for the prevention of AIDS," said Lalhrima Sailo.

Half the people covered by the SSM are migrants from Burma. They are weavers and housemaids, according to the project director.

Meanwhile MSACS has directed SSM to concentrate on migrants from Burma and other states of India.

"We reach out to Burmese migrants and Indians from other states, on a fifty-fifty basis. Now we have a project to reach out to migrants outside Aizawl, Mzoram," said Dr.Margaret M. Varte, Secretary and Medical officer of SSM.

In another outstanding performance, SSM has completed its "Centennial Surveillance" within two months, covering a target of 250 people in three months from September to November. Almost half of them are Burmese migrants.

SSM has 34 staff members in different categories, with 15 being 'Peer Educators' imparting education for prevention of HIV/AIDS to the migrants. Around seven peer educators are Burmese migrants.