Srinagar, Nov 09:(KNS) Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society (JKACS) as part of its continued IEC campaign under the directions of Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo conducted series of programs for the ‘Sensitization of Religious Leaders’ on COVID-19 and the measures to be taken to avoid the spread of the deadly virus.

The campaign has been launched across Jammu and Kashmir with the support of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Jammu. The JKACS reached out to the religious leaders during a programme at Darul Huda Jamia Masjid Ahle-e-Hadees south Kashmir, Darul Uloom Salfia, New Qazi Bagh, Anantnag for the Ulamas, Mufti’s, & Molanas of District Anantnag Kashmir. Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, Project Director Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society presided over the Program.

Moulana Mufti Muhammad Maqbool Akhrani, Chairman, Darul Huda Jamia Masjid Ahli Hadees South Kashmir gave a detailed sermon on COVID-19 Pandamic in light of Islam and also highlighted the role of Imams & Moulanas in controlling the spread of the pandemic.

Dr. Syed Faheem Alam, District Tuberculosis Officer, Anantnag gave a detailed information about the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on human body and how the transmission can be stopped with strict adherence to the social distancing & wearing of masks during the gatherings at the religious places.

Dr. Javaid Malikh, Professor & Head Pulmonary Medicine, SKIMS, Bemina, Srinagar requested the participants to strictly follow and also advocate for the strict adherence of the SOPs issued by the Government from time to time in order to check the spread of the disease.

Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, Project Director Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society highlighted the impact of the proper dissemination of the information on COVID-19 to the masses and the effective role that the religious leaders can play in curbing the pandemic. He ensured all the support to the religious leaders for the dissemination of the proper information at the grass root level. He also distributed masks & sanitizers among the participants. He further highlighted the role played by the Department of Health & Medical Education in the fight against the COVID-19 in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. Mukhtar Ahmad, Assistant Director, JKSACS presented the vote of thanks and thanked all the participants for sparing the time to make the campaign a success.(KNS)