Mizoram Health Min urges Church leaders to combat HIV/AIDS

Mizoram health minister Lal Thanzara today appealed to the Presbyterian Church's Mizoram Synod leaders to take active part in combating the menace of HIV/AIDS in the state.
In a 'Consortium on HIV Prevention and Drug Abuse' convened in Aizawl and attended by the leaders of the Mizoram Synod, Lal Thanzara said Mizoram has the second highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the country next only to Nagaland.
"Unless coordinated efforts are being made by the government and the church from now, the spread of HIV/AIDS will be beyond control after a period of five years," he warned.
Synod Moderator Rev H Lalrinmawia said the Presbyterian Church has taken steps to combat HIV/AIDS and would continue to do so by cooperating with the state government.

Lalrinmawia said the dangers of the spread of HIV/AIDS were taught in the local churches, specially among the youths.
At least 11,374 of the 3,52,737 blood samples tested, have been found to be infected with HIV in the state since October 1990, the meeting was informed, adding around 75 per cent of those infected got the dreaded disease through sex.
The alarming fact was that majority of those infected though sex did not belong to the high-risk groups like sex workers or intravenous drug users, according to the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSCACS) officials.