Amid confetti and celebrations, remembering people living with HIV

Our Correspondent Mokokchung, DECember 2 World AIDS Day is held on the December 1 each year across the world, offering an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988. Globally there are an estimated 34 million people who have the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV & AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. The state of Nagaland is currently in a grip of festivities. A few districts of Nagaland also observed the occasion. Dimapur, Mokokchung, and Phek districts saw programs dedicated to the occasion. Joining with the rest of the world, the 27th World Aids Day was observed in Mokokchung town. The event was conducted at Imlong Place on December 1. The program was sponsored by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society and district advocacy cells and organizations working in the field of HIV and AIDS. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung district, Rajesh S, was the chief guest of the event. Speaking about the significance of the day, T Temsü Jamir, president of advocacy group NMP+, spoke about the history of World Aids Day and how and why it was started. The event is observed by ‘health officials, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals’ to ‘fight against stigma and discrimination’ faced by the people living with HIV and AIDS. He also highlighted the present scenario of people living with HIV and AIDS in Mokokchung district. Also, short speeches were also delivered by leaders of the Ao Senden, Watsü Mungdang, and Ao Students’ Conference during the program. In their speeches, the speakers highlighted the significance of the day and called upon the community to fight against stigma and discrimination faced by the affected people. In his address, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajesh S called for a sense of action and collective responsibility in combating HIV & AIDS. The administrator said that the infected and the affected should not be made to feel affected ‘as we are all affected in a way.’ Addressing the gathering, the chief guest said that there was ‘something wrong in the approach to the preventive measures taken to fight against AIDS as the statistical trend shows no decline in the infection ratio.’ He opined that the anomaly can be related to the huge disconnect between the theoretical and practical approach to the issue. The official also explained that discrimination against those infected can be eradicated from the society through more awareness campaigns. He called upon all individuals, groups, civil organizations to stand and fight against discrimination and stigma related to AIDS in order to achieve the goal “Getting to Zero.” It is the duty of every individual to fight the good fight, he said. The program was followed by a signature campaign of a pledge, pledging to fight against stigma and discrimination. Mon In Mon district, the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) collaborated with partner nongovernmental organizations to observe World AIDS Day. The event for Mon was conducted in the District Hospital, in Mon town and with the theme “Getting to zero-zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths.” The event was supported by the NSACS. The guest speaker for the event, Dr. Kechongol Sophie, medical superintendent of the District Hospital of Mon, briefly highlighted the HIV and AIDS situation in the state. He said that HIV was a reality in the society. There are many people who are still reluctant to go for voluntary HIV-testing and avail treatment services due to fear of stigma and discrimination, he said. The medical officer urged the gathering to ‘understand the issues and play the role to prevent the spread of HIV and to create a favorable environment for those who are living with HIV to access treatment facilities (ART) to live a healthy life.’ Key note address was delivered by Longyim Tzudir, DPO, DAPCU where he mentioned that World AIDS Day celebration has become the most recognized health days celebrations internationally. He said that the Day is observed every year on 1st December not just remembering those who lost their lives to HIV, but offers key opportunity to raise awareness among people. He further stated that there is no medicine to cure HIV, therefore he called upon the key stakeholders of government departments, civil societies, students, NGOs and fellow citizens to continue to spread awareness on HIV and show love and care to people living with HIV. Government officials, students, members of civil organizations and churches, medical and defense personnel, and well wishers attended the event. Phek Along with the rest of the world, Phek also observed World Aids day on December 1. The event was conducted in the Phek Town Council Conference hall. The program was conducted with the theme ‘Getting zero to new HIV infection, zero discrimination and zero Aids related death.’ Deputy Commissioner of Phek district, Murohu Chotso, was the chief guest of the event. Addressing the gathering, the deputy commissioner said the ‘zero-point’ targets should be fulfilled in totality. He called upon every citizen to take preventive measures and fight against the disease ‘to enable the society live in safely.’ ‘The need of the hour is to create awareness to the masses for protection of oneself so that we are not infected by the disease,’ he said. Murohu Chotso the gathering not to ‘shy away from testing for HIV’ but to get immediate treatment for safety in order to live a healthy lifestyle. What is the meaning of World AIDS Day? Today, scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV and we understand so much more about the condition. Despite this, each year in the UK around 6,000 people are diagnosed with HIV, people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others, and stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with the condition. World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and Government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. World AIDS Day is an opportunity to show support to and solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV. Wearing a red ribbon is one simple way to do this. Find out where you can get a red ribbon. World AIDS Day is also a great opportunity to raise money for NAT (National AIDS Trust) and show support for people living with HIV.