Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 1
The rage is still against a dying light. “We have more questions than answers, as people living with HIV, with regard to “Getting to Zero,” said the president of Nagaland Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (NNP+), Naomi on Sunday at a function held to mark the 26th World AIDS Day here at Town Hall, Dimapur.
“The theme: ‘Getting to Zero,’ should not end only on paper. We must see, feel and experience actions targeting zero new infections, zero AIDS related deaths and zero discrimination,” she said.
To put her reasoning in proper perspective, Nagaland has a recorded data (as of October 2013) of 15,519 people living with HIV and AIDS, out of which only 4382 are availing ART treatment. It means that another recorded 11137 people living with HIV and AIDS are not in a position to avail basic ART facilities.
“Where are the balances? Do they know their status? Are they not living in contrary to the theme-Getting to zero?” she asked.
“The year 2013 has not been kind with respect to treatment, shortage of OI drugs, CD4 Re-agents and CD4 machines breakdown. The non availability of Viral Load testing machine in the state is attributing to treatment failures and its risks, which is very much require by us. So who is responsible? Are we all not responsible? This afternoon, let us all question and remind ourselves, does this help us in getting to zero?” she challenged.
The NNP+ president also shared that “another emerging serious factor in the recent years” is the “HIV and Hepatitis C co-infection.” Many of us living with this co-infection are dying of the latter, she said. “This is due to the high cost of Hepatitis C drugs which most of cannot afford.”
“This (World AIDS Day) is also an opportunity to tell anybody in our state living with HIV that treatment works and that one should not suffer in isolation for fear of stigma and discrimination, which is more painful,” Naomi said.
Her sentiments were echoed by the president Of Dimapur Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (DNP+) Moa Phom, who also pointed out that “when looked from the grass roots level of the present scenario related to HIV and AIDS” the grievances of the PLHIVs have not been addressed as expected.
He cited the “inconvenience of CD4 counting machine, shortage of Opportunistic Infection drugs and the absence of Viral Load testing machine” in Dimapur to buttress his case.
Guest speaker of the occasion, Joel Nillo Kath underlined the need for the churches in Nagaland to get more involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the state. “The church is becoming like an elephant in a room (today in Nagaland),” he regretted while pointing out that the church has failed to “play its role” in the fight against unabated taxation, corruption and HIV and AIDS in Naga society.
Fr Joe Ngamkhuchung, the Director of NEDHIV, also called for more active participation from the church, in his brief address on the significance of the day. Dimapur Naga Students’ Organization, social network group The Naga Blog and the Nagaland Motorcycle Club also expressed their commitment and solidarity messages on the occasion.
