Nagaland: 23,163 HIV cases, 1521 related deaths since 1999

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 20 (EMN): Nagaland has recorded a total 23,163 HIV and AIDS cases from 1999 till March 2018, out of which, 1521 persons have lost their lives to the disease. 16,983 PLHIV have registered for antiretroviral therapy (ART) till March 2018, and while 11,444 have started ART, 7290 PLHIV who are on ART need regular medication and monitoring tests.

This was revealed by the Access to Rights and Knowledge (ARK) Foundation, a social action group, during an event marking the 35th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at the RHFPC Satellite Centre in Kohima on May 20. Held on the third Sunday of May every year, the event, coordinated by the Global Network of People living with HIV, is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilisation campaigns for HIV awareness in the world involving a coalition of over 1000 community organisations in 115 countries. The occasion serves as an important intervention for global solidarity, breaking down barriers of stigma and discrimination, and giving hope to new generations.

Speaking at the event in Kohima, ARK Foundation president Ketholelie expressed serious concern over the increasing number of new HIV infections in the state and underscored the need to revamp the ‘approach strategy’.

He said the response approach has to shift focus towards preventing new infection among the youth population (25-35 age group) which currently constitutes 41% and also on preventing the ANC and sexual route of transmission in the state, which attributes to 91% of the total mode of HIV transmission in Nagaland.

With 23,163 cases in two decades and the adult prevalence rate standing at 0.76% against the national 0.25% as of December 2017, the state cannot claim to have done a good job in checking the epidemic, he stated.

Ketholelie pointed out that there were challenges in regard to ARV shortage such as stock outs, breakdown of CD4 machines and the absence of a viral load machine in the state.

“TB is the most common infection of the AIDS stage and is therefore the killer rather than HIV. So to win the battle over AIDS, we cannot continue to have a lukewarm approach towards TB. The working relation and partnership has to start between NSACS and RNTCP and the NGOs working on AIDS while similar approach has to be formulated with the health department for viral hepatitis for treatment of HIV and Hepatitis co-infections,” he stated.

‘Time for chief minister to convene AIDS Council sitting’

The ARK Foundation has urged the chief minister to convene a sitting of the State AIDS Council. It was learnt that the council, which is headed by the state chief minister, has not had a single meeting in the last five years.

Besides the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), HE POINTED OUT, another entity which could play a major role was the Legislators’ Forum on AIDS (LFA). He maintained that LFA needed to be reactivated and the policymakers have to be more aggressive on the subject. “When there is a massive need for combating AIDS, political will cannot be only confined to INR 1 lakh contribution (from legislators) and remaining silent on the whole issue throughout the year,” Ketholelie said, urging the NSACS and LFA to pull up their socks and get policymakers to recommit themselves towards preventing further AIDS related deaths.

Network of Nagaland Drugs and AIDS Organisation (NNaga-DAO) president Abou Mere spoke on the event’s theme ‘Reflecting on our past, Preparing for our future’ and reminded the gathering of how IDUs and PLHIV struggled during the 1990s. He recalled when the first HIV case was diagnosed in Nagaland in 1990, there was no cooperation or support from the civil society, the church or even families and there was rampant stigma and discrimination. But slowly, he said, sensitiSation and awareness along with intervention programmes came and ‘situation has changed’.

However, he lamented that the government has become complacent over the years. “Earlier, we all worked as a team and in a mission mode, but now the government has gone on a project mode. So where are we going now?” Mere asked.

While observing that the government keeps talking about solution and development, Mere wondered if the state’s key population, its most energetic human resource is lost to the virus, then who will enjoy the ‘fruits of solution and development’?

Senior journalist H Chishi, who was the guest speaker at the programme, said as per surveys, HIV is likely to have a greater economic impact than other endemic diseases because it affects primarily adults in the economically most productive years. Concentrating on the latter part of the day’s theme, he highlighted policies proposed at international and national levels for combating the spread of HIV and AIDS and stressed on the importance of spreading awareness on the rights of PLHIV. He also observed that a single agency could not tackle the epidemic alone, and further emphasised that concerted efforts from all sections of the society was needed, the media included.

Towards the end of the memorial service, the gathering lighted candles and observed a minute of silence in prayer for all those who have lost their lives through HIV and AIDS and also for PLHIV and their families.