Media campaign on HIV underway

Dimapur, Oct. 18 (EMN): The 9th phase of multi-media campaign initiated by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) under National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, got underway on the theme “Know your HIV status. Get tested and treated.” Deputy director of IEC, Thejangunuo stated that the programme is being organised since 2009 with the objective to capitalise on the popularity of music among the youth and draw the attention of young people and spread HIV awareness in the state through music. The campaign aimed at promoting awareness to people that effective prevention for HIV/AIDS is possible. It also aimed at educating the public to give compassion and support to those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS to live a life without stigma and discrimination. It informed that entries for the competition would be opened till November 1. Stating that the genre should be Indie rock, it said selection for the district auditions would conducted in three zones. Audition for Dimapur, Peren, Mon districts would be conducted at Dimapur, while for Kohima, Wokha, Phek, Kiphire, the audition would conducted at Kohima, and Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Tuensang, Longleng districts would be conducted at Mokokchung. Interested bands are asked to submit entries to their respective zonal districts. For the entries, each band should send an audio format demo copy of their original song based on HIV/AIDS or drug abused, band’s photograph, bio-data, lyrics sheet and contact details. It can be submitted to nsacsmmcdmp@gmail.com for Dimapur zone, nsacsmmckma@gmail.com for Kohima zone and nsacsmmcmok@gmail.com for Mokokchung zone. The selected bands would be provided with honorarium to meet their travel expenses food and accommodation on requirement for participation at the district level audition. After screening of entries, the selected bands would be called for the district auditions on November 15, it added. The update also stated that two bands would be selected from each zonal districts to compete at the state-level which would be held on November 26. It further stated that winner of the competition would represent the state at the 2nd Northeast multiple media campaign to be held at Imphal in Manipur on December 18.