[Suvash]

Today, 30th November, just a day before the world AIDS day, Kathmandu Medical College organised a training program on HIV/AIDS and STI in its Basic Science Building, Duwakot.

On the day long program, Dr Toufique conducted a very useful and practically oriented training session about STI, and mainly the social and family problems that arise - making the control programs very difficult to conduct. Dr Toufique stressed that STIs are still a matter of stigma in our society and we all need to be very open and liberal in discussions of sex, and only through that we can have a good control over such issues.

Dr Angel Magar was also present on the occasion and also presented some very important views about HIV, status of STIs in our country in his very interesting way.

Ujjwal Baral, a very active figure working for HIV infected people at Navajeevan Kendra also made his presence at the program and it added an extra significance to the whole program.

About a hundred students participated in the program, and I am sure we all learnt many new things.
People should change their attitude towards sex, sex and sex related issues should not be a social taboo anymore and we, students, can send that message to the society was the main theme.

Besides STI, various things were also discussed about the intravenous drug abuses as well.