Remembering Those Who Fell To HIV/AIDS - Eastern Mirror
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Nagaland

Remembering those who fell to HIV/AIDS

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By Our Correspondent Updated: May 20, 2019 12:34 am

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 19 (EMN): In memory of people who lost their life battling the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), a number of people in Kohima joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 36th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
The memorial was conducted at the KNP+, on May 19 in Kohima.
The theme for this year’s memorial is ‘intensifying the fight for health and right.’

The president of the Network of Naga People Living with HIV/AIDS (NNP+) Lanu, no surname given, spoke during the event. He spoke about the significance of the day.

The NNP is an organisation that works for the welfare of the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), and those affected by it in one way or the other.

The memorial is an important intervention for global solidarity, he said.
Likewise, it is important for breaking down the barriers of stigma and discrimination, and giving hope to new generation, he said.

“We hold this event to acknowledge and provide a safe space for PLHIV, their friends, family, and supporters to remember those we’ve lost, and reflect on the work still to be done in combating the AIDS pandemic.”

Apart from remembering those who have lost their life, the day is to celebrate the increased access to treatment and prevention services.

It not only raises society’s understanding about HIV/AIDS but also creates the opportunity to promote education and awareness, Lanu added.

The health activist is of the opinion that the community is challenged by the epidemic, with close to 37 millions of lives lost.

Yet, “we stand now at the crossroads of a turbulent yet transformational time in the global AIDS,” he said.
Highlighting challenges the PLHIV face, Lanu said that the community stands at a “crucial stage” as support for the affected people is ‘slowly on the decline.’

Frequent shortage of antiretroviral drugs are causing mental stress and trauma to people living with HIV/AIDS, he added.

The NNP+ president urged the people to come forward and work together for a better tomorrow.
Rev Vezopa, pastor of the Chakhesang Baptist Church at Kitsubozou, shared the message of God.

He encouraged the PLHIV to look upon God as the source of strength and saviour.
He said one should not feel hopeless because of what they are going through but to look upon the Almighty who knows their problem.

The programme concluded with the participants observing with lit candles a minute of silence to remember the departed.

The website of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial states that the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is coordinated by the Global Network of People living with HIV.

The memorial is stated to be one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaigns for HIV awareness in the world.

Started in 1983, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place every third Sunday in May and is led by a coalition of some 1,200 community organizations in 115 countries.

“Continuing human rights violations against those most marginalised, and the lack of political willingness to scale up national HIV responses has left far too many people living with HIV exposed to multiple risks and has jeopardized the hard fought gains made over the last decades,” the website states.

“The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial reminds us that those most affected by the HIV epidemic: including people living with HIV in all their diversity (women, men, young people, gay and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, drug users, the poor, homeless and unstably housed, migrant and formerly or currently incarcerated people) need to continue to be at the forefront leading our movement for the right to life and the right to health.”

This includes fighting for universal, comprehensive and sustainable treatment, care and prevention services, and intensifying our work around human rights, stigma reduction, social and economic justice to ensure that no one is left behind, the website stated. (Source: candlelightmemorial.org)

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By Our Correspondent Updated: May 20, 2019 12:34:16 am
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