Haryana Steps Up HIV Prevention Drive, Strengthens Care Services: Health Minister Arti Singh Rao

Chandigarh, January 8: Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao on Thursday said the state government is fully committed to strengthening HIV prevention measures and improving care and support services for people living with HIV. She said the government is working in line with the Centre’s target of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and is focusing on systematic capacity building to achieve this goal.
The health minister directed officials to intensify awareness programmes related to HIV/AIDS and further strengthen the state’s data management system under the Strategic Information Management System (SIMS).
Haryana State AIDS Control Society Deputy Director Dr Meenakshi Sohi said that, in accordance with the health minister’s directions, a comprehensive capacity-building workshop is being organised in Panchkula from January 5 to January 10. The workshop is based on the core components of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).
She said the training programme is being conducted in three phases with the objective of enhancing the technical skills and performance capacity of field-level personnel engaged in HIV-related service delivery. Emphasising the importance of skilled manpower, Dr Sohi said that trained and competent human resources form the backbone of effective and quality healthcare services.
The workshop covers key areas under the National AIDS Control Programme, including services related to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), opioid substitution therapy (OST) centres, and targeted interventions for high-risk and vulnerable groups. Special focus is also being laid on the Strengthening Overall Care for HIV (SOCH) portal, a national digital platform designed for integrated HIV service delivery.
Dr Sohi said IT experts from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Roshan Chauhan and Abhinash Kumar Gupta, are serving as resource persons for the training. Under their guidance, participants are being provided hands-on training in data recording, reporting, case management, and effective use of the SOCH portal.
She added that STI counsellors and OST data managers from across the state are participating in the initiative. The workshop includes live demonstrations, interactive sessions, technical troubleshooting, and practical training to address field-level challenges more effectively.
According to Dr Sohi, the initiative will help strengthen monitoring mechanisms, improve service quality, and ensure better outreach to communities in need. She reiterated that the programme reflects the state government’s commitment to HIV prevention and care services and aligns with the national objective of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.