THE Network of Nagaland Drugs and AIDS Organisation (NNagaDAO) an NGO that runs 53 Drop-in-Centres (DIC) launched their stir in the form of two day closure starting from Tuesday May 17 2016. The agitation that covered all the 11 districts of the state was done to protest against the government’s failure namely the agencies NACO and NSACS to release funds thereby causing nearly 1000 workers to go without salaries and the organisations had to buy equipment for the key populations on credit for the past 6 months.
UNAids categorises the term ‘key population’ as those most likely to be exposed to HIV or to transmit it. Along with the people who are living with HIV key population include drug users who inject, commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender and couples with one of them infected with the virus. The categorisation itself is a taboo for some to discuss in our local context but denial does not remove the reality of the presence of these group nor the dangers of HIV.
The general population are those who do not fall under the category of key population and it is in this category that Nagaland is facing a rising problem. The recent data released by NACO as disclosed by the president of NNagaDAO and reported in Eastern Mirror on the 16th of May 2016 indicate that Nagaland has the highest prevalence of HIV among the general population at 0.88%. It converts to almost 20000 of the general population who are living with HIV in Nagaland.
The present case in Nagaland is surely not a scenario as envisioned by organisations like World Bank, USAID, DFID, AusAID etc. to name a few that funded projects globally in the fight against AIDS. And surely it goes against the visions of NACO, it is relevant to note some of the visions of NACO;
Building an India where every person is safe from HIV/AIDS.
An India where every person living with HIV is treated with dignity and has access to quality care.
An India where every person will eventually live a healthy and safe life, supported by technological advances.
An India where every person who is highly vulnerable to HIV is heard and reached out to.
The Nagaland Legislators’ Forum on AIDS (LFA) had also proposed to fund the churches in Nagaland to fight against HIV/Aids with 2020 as the target year. It is a laudable proposal and if can be implemented will go a long way since the participation of the church has become pertinent and it is time the church should also not shy away. However at present the ground zero is the DICs operated by the partner NGOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) of NACO/NSACS. It is at the DICs that Targeted Interventions (TI) or providing HIV prevention services to the key population occurs where they can be effectively accessed. Need we say more? The long delayed money meant for running the DICs has to be released immediately.
