In a major step to strengthen healthcare access in remote areas of Ladakh, Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Sanjeev Khirwar (IAS), flagged off a Mobile Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (Mobile-ICTC) in Leh on July 29.

The initiative, launched under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) by the Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society (JKACS)—which also oversees HIV-related services in the Union Territory—aims to enhance outreach for HIV prevention, testing, and counselling in geographically isolated and high-risk populations.

The Mobile ICTC van is equipped with diagnostic tools, private counselling facilities, and STI screening services. It is designed to bridge the gap between urban healthcare infrastructure and rural communities, ensuring timely access to HIV-related services in far-flung areas.

Speaking at the launch, Principal Secretary Khirwar emphasized the administration’s commitment to ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.

“The rollout of Mobile ICTC is a commitment to health equity. Every citizen, no matter how remote their location, must have access to timely HIV screening and healthcare,” he said.

Dr. Tashi Thinlas, Director, Health Services Ladakh, highlighted the importance of mobile healthcare in a region like Ladakh, where tough terrain and dispersed settlements hinder access to medical facilities.

Nissar Ahmad Dar, Deputy Director (Prevention) at JKACS, described the mobile initiative as aligned with the goals of NACP, particularly in ensuring early detection, promoting behavioural change, and linking patients to care and treatment.

The event was attended by officials including the Chief Medical Officer, Leh, representatives from JKACS, and members of partner NGOs and civil society organizations.

The deployment of the Mobile ICTC also supports the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, especially the first goal: that 95% of people living with HIV should know their status. Officials described the initiative as a step toward creating inclusive, stigma-free, and accessible healthcare services in the region.