Sri Vijaya Puram, August 11: The Andaman and Nicobar AIDS Control Society (ANACS) will launch the third round of its Intensified IEC Campaign on August 12, combining the initiative with International Youth Day 2026 to strengthen awareness among young people and communities about HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The inaugural programme will begin at 9.15 a.m. at the Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE) Auditorium. The campaign will focus on increasing awareness about HIV, AIDS and other STIs while also providing information on the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.
The programme will also disseminate information about available services, including the National AIDS Toll-Free Helpline 1097. Secretary (Health), A&N Administration, Vandana Rao, IAS, will attend the event as chief guest, while Director of Health Services H.M. Siddaraju will be the guest of honour.
The third round of the Intensified IEC Campaign will run for two months and take awareness activities into communities through multiple outreach formats. These will include folk performances, flash mobs, programmes in schools and colleges, rallies, village-level awareness meetings, door-to-door campaigns and special camps at government hospitals.
The campaign is designed to reach young people and communities through both institutional and community-level activities. The planned programmes will provide information on HIV, AIDS and STIs while also creating awareness about legal provisions under the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 and services available to those seeking assistance.
A key part of the inaugural programme will be the recognition of officials who have contributed to strengthening HIV and AIDS awareness within their institutions and departments. Red Ribbon Club Nodal Officers and Nodal Officers from various departments will be acknowledged for their efforts in mainstreaming HIV and AIDS awareness activities.
The two-month campaign will use schools, colleges, villages, government hospitals and community outreach activities to extend its reach. The programme will combine public awareness initiatives with information on available services, providing communities with access to information through multiple platforms.
The initiative comes as ANACS prepares to mark International Youth Day 2026 with a focused awareness campaign aimed at young people and communities. Through the third round of the Intensified IEC Campaign, the society will continue its awareness activities across the two-month period through the range of programmes planned for different sections of the community.
