UNODC is cosponsor of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS - UNAIDS
A tribute to Dr. V.L. Muana, Director, SHALOM
Dr. V.L. Muana, Director, SHALOM passed away on the 7th July, 2007 at 1510 hrs. An able leader and a friend to all, Dr. Muana's sudden loss is a grave setback to the movement against the drug and HIV problem in India.
A dynamic leader with strong commitments and dedication towards his work, Dr. Muana is most known for his contributions in pioneering the civil society movement in the north eastern states of the country. He was the director of SHALOM (based in the Churachandpur district of Manipur) at a time when the HIV prevalence amongst the injecting drug users (IDU) in Churachandpur was highest in India.
Over the years, SHALOM has been working with commitment on various issues related to drug use and HIV/AIDS. Dr. V.L. Muana as the Director and an active board member of SHALOM, took the movement forward for over a decade.
It was due to his potent leadership qualities that enabled SHALOM to expand its services and reach by setting up its centres in the neighboring states of Mizoram and Meghalaya.
Words cannot express how significant his characteristics were. His forfeit for the drug using and the HIV infected and afflicted community is worth acknowledging.
In the words of a SHALOM staff member
"None can fill the vacuum his death had created for us at SHALOM". However, we will remember all his dedicated orientation that SHALOM will strive on. It was his last wish that we, the staff of SHALOM, give our best in what we do and it is our strong conviction to abide with this".
The UNODC Regional Office for South Asia joins his family and friends in mourning a friend and able partner in our work in the region.
