Dimapur, Dec. 3 (EMN): Commemorating the World AIDS Day, the Can Youth under its project ‘Development 4 Adolescent’ organised a webinar with the Nagaland branch programme officer of Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Akangkokla Namo, and the president of Access to Rights and Knowledge (ARK) Foundation, Ketho Angami, as the resource persons.
An update from Can Youth stated that the welcome address was delivered by Mary Konyak, facilitator of Development 4 Adolescent, who also highlighted about the activities undertaken by Can Youth particularly on the Development 4 Adolescent project.
It stated that Namo shared a short video how HIV is transmitted from one person to another and its symptoms. On the misconception between HIV and AIDS, she clarified that HIV is a virus and not disease which affects the immune system and AIDS is the last stage when an infected person becomes susceptible to various diseases. She added that people with AIDS have HIV but not every people with HIV would develop AIDS.
Ketho Angami advocated that the World AIDS Day should not be observed only on December 1 because fights against HIV is not over yet in the state and suggested making more efforts to reduce the number of infection. He informed that Nagaland is the second highest HIV prevalence state in the country.
He also shared that the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in 1990 and said many precious lives were lost to HIV/AIDS in subsequent years. Angami also added that stigma is one major factor affecting those infected with HIV/AIDs.
He also stated that violence against women with HIV positive and discrimination is increasing in the society. Stating that an average of 9 to 10 positive cases are detected everyday, he has called for concerted effort to minimise the rate of HIV transmission.
The session concluded with vote of thanks by Suikolie, facilitator of Development 4 Adolescent, in which has appreciated the panellists and participants for their support and participants.