December 8: Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuk met with the Multi Sector Task Force (MSTF) members and the business community members in Monggar on Wednesday.

The meeting is part of Her Majesty’s visit to the eastern Dzongkhags as the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in Bhutan.

At the meeting, the Dzongkhag MSTF Chairperson, Monggar Dzongda Lhab Dorji presented the annual progress report. He informed the meeting that a series of HIV awareness programs have been carried out to educate the public on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

To educate the students, several HIV related programs have been conducted in schools.

The MSTF Chairperson said voluntary HIV testing program have been carried out during the annual Tshechu festivals. Non-formal Education (NFE) learners were briefed on family planning to educate women in rural areas.

The Joint Director of the Information and Communication Bureau Ugyen said unfortunate victims should be supported and treated with compassion. He said it was the responsibility of every Bhutanese citizen to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The MSTF in the dzongkhags were established under the initiative of Her Majesty to help combat the spead of HIV/AIDS.

As the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, Her Majesty also travelled through the whole length and breadth of the country to educate the people on HIV/AIDS.