ITANAGAR, Jun 26:    Arunachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society in association with Drug De Addiction Cell of the Directorate of Health and 1st AP BN NCC, Naharlagun, organized a seminar to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking here at the auditorium of DN College, Itanagar.

 

The theme for this year’s celebration was “Let’s develop our lives, our communities, our identities without drug”. More than 410 NCC cadets from colleges and Hr. Secondary Schools from across the state and Assam participated.

 

Dy. Director (IEC) APSACS Tashor Pali, while attending the programme as the resource person educated the students on the routes of HIV/AIDS transmission and its prevention. Youth are the backbone of the nation and at the same time youths are most vulnerable age group as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned, he added. He also informed the cadets about the alarming rise of HIV in the state which as on today is 354 with 216 cases detected in the Papumpare district alone.

 

Asstt Director (TI) APSACS, Dr. Marto Ette, while highlighting the importance of the day said 'It is an important occasion to reach out to the youth and create awareness about the menace of drug abuse to the young generation.

 

Lt. Colonel NK Bishnoi, SM, Commanding officer of the 1st AP BN NCC, asked the cadets to take home the information and impart the same to their friends and relative as Drug and HIV are emerging as a major menace especially in the North East. NCC Officer, Agin Taboh coordinated the event.