Principal Correspondent
Kohima, May 17
Minister for Health and Family Welfare, P Longon while stressing on the need to intensify the battle against HIV and AIDS in the State today wished to have a future free of the disease, stigma and discrimination by enabling a sustainable AIDS response in Nagaland.
Addressing the 32nd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial held under the theme “Supporting the future” at The Heritage here this evening, he said that under the preventive strategies of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), mainstreaming efforts have been scaled up through coordination with the line departments for support to the people living with HIV (PLHIV) such as nutritional and education support, free transport and capacity building. With regards to HIV testing, he said Nagaland has 60 Stand Alone Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs); 51 Facility Integrated ICTCs located in 49 PHCs, District TB Centre at Dimapur and the District TB and Chest Disease Hospital at Khuzama.
Till March 2015, as per the official data of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society, total number of persons registered on Anti-Rhetro Viral Therapy (ART) is 12,213 while the total alive on ART is 4,479. Stating that a timely start of ART and strict adherence to it can help a positive person to live a long and healthy life, he said since 1999 upto March this year, a total of 7,54,787 people in Nagaland tested for HIV, out of which a total of 18,096 were tested positive.
Maintaining that during the past decade in the State, the adult HIV prevalence rate has come down from 1.83 per cent to 0.73 per cent, Longon however said “we cannot and should not remain complacent in this achievement.
“We must continue working towards our commitment of “Getting to Zero and in achieving Zero new infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths,” he said.
The Minister said that the issue of stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) should be collectively addressed, as it is not only a tragedy but also contributes to driving the epidemic even further.
He pointed that because of the fear of stigma and discrimination many people are reluctant to seek information on HIV and to go for HIV counseling and testing.
This in turn, he said, “undermines all our efforts to control the epidemic.”
Therefore, Longon said, “together we need to continue to educate ourselves, our friends and loved ones on how HIV is transmitted, what we can do to reduce risky behaviors and if we are infected where we can seek care, treatment and support”.
“We need to reduce stigma, ensure access, increase resources and promote involvement of PLHIV. Our response to HIV and AIDS in the state must continue, to create an enabling environment in all spheres of live, so that the quality of life improves for PLHIV and AIDS, especially the poor and the most marginalized,” he said.
Further, Longon also said that the annual contribution of Rs. one lakh by legislators of NLA towards taking up the cause of HIV/AIDS in the State needs to be reviewed.
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is observed every third Sunday of May in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS.
“It is a day to renew our commitment towards the goal of “Zero new infection, Zero discrimination and HIV related deaths” and to work towards a sustainable AIDS response,” he said.
Project Director NSACS Dr L. Watikala said the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is much more than just a memorial as it serves as a community mobilization campaign to raise social consciousness about HIV and AIDS.
She also called upon the people to come forward to avail HIV testing facility, to know ones HIV status and avail medications at the right time, to live a long and healthy life.
State Consultant (UNAIDS), Nagaland Legislators Forum on AIDS, Dr. Vinito Chishi asserted that NLFA would continue to work together with NSACS and other organisations working for curbing of HIV/AIDS while also appealing for continued political will and support towards the cause. Together we can achieve the target, he said while maintaining that our effort should be early testing and creating better awareness and spreading education among the people.
Nagaland Network of PLHIV (NNP+), Lanu Aier briefed on the significance of the day, which was marked by observing a minute silence and lighting of candles.
Compered by Thejangunuo AD (IEC) NSACS, associate pastor of CBC Kitsubozou Chikhungo Puro said the invocation. Special numbers were presented by Buolie-o Whourie from Nagaland Users Network and Youth Choir of Cross Wonder Church Kohima.
The memorial was organized by Naga Network of People Living with HIV (NNP+) in collaboration with Naga land Users Network (NUN), Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Nagaland branch, Kohima Network of People Living with HIV (KNP+), Kohima Users Network (KUN), Kekhrie Foundation and supported by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society and the Nagaland Legislators’ Forum on AIDS.
