Nagaland launches intensified HIV and STI awareness campaign

KOHIMA — Despite a steady decline in HIV cases in Nagaland, the state continues to record the second-highest adult HIV prevalence rate in the country at 1.37%, with 85% of infections transmitted through unprotected sex.

This was stated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Paiwang Konyak at the launch of the two-month intensified Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign 2.0 on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), organised by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) under the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), at the NBCC Convention Centre in Kohima on Tuesday. Thousands of students from 66 schools and colleges in Kohima took part in the event.

Konyak said Nagaland is at a “crucial moment” in its HIV response. Citing Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) data, he noted that while the epidemic in the state has been on a steady decline in recent years, the prevalence rate of 1.37% among adults aged 15 to 49 remains a concern.

He informed that the main mode of transmission is unprotected sex with an infected person (85%), followed by sharing of infected needles and syringes (8.7%), and mother-to-child transmission from parents not on treatment (5.4%).

Also read: Nagaland State AIDS Control Society to launch 2-month-long IEC campaign on HIV & STIs

As of June 2025, he said 15,323 people living with HIV in Nagaland are receiving Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). The minister also highlighted that Nagaland is among the few states with Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centres in all district hospitals, as well as in some community health centres, primary health centres, wellness centres and NGOs. Currently, 64 OST centres are providing treatment to more than 10,000 injecting drug users across the state.

“OST is part of a harm reduction approach to reduce the risk of other infections due to drug use and to facilitate recovery,” he said.

WATCH MORE:

On the campaign, Konyak assured that outreach would cover both urban and rural communities, targeting people of all age groups. “Information alone is not enough; it must be communicated in ways that connect with people’s lives, beliefs and aspirations,” he added.

Health and Family Welfare Commissioner and Secretary, and NSACS Chairman, Anoop Khinchi, described the campaign as a reaffirmation of the collective will to protect the health, dignity and future of the people of Nagaland.

He acknowledged that HIV and other STIs remain a serious public health challenge, and said NSACS has worked to spread awareness, provide testing and treatment services, and combat stigma. However, awareness must be “continuous, innovative, and reach deep into communities,” he said.

Outlining NACO’s vision, he said it is a future where everyone has the knowledge, tools and confidence to make informed choices, where HIV transmission is halted, and no one is excluded because of fear or discrimination.

Read more: ESIC intensifies registration campaign across Nagaland

Khinchi assured that the state government is committed to ensuring that every person in Nagaland has access to accurate information, quality healthcare services, and a supportive environment. “No one should be left uninformed, denied care, or suffer in silence because of stigma or misinformation,” he said.

He added that IEC activities would be strengthened through traditional outreach, youth-led initiatives, social media campaigns, and school and college programmes. The campaign will also engage influencers, educators, faith leaders and community champions to empower young people to lead the way.

The launch programme featured performances by Ace Crew, Mezhütuo-ü Thira of Kohima College, and the Tetseo Sisters, who presented the campaign’s theme song.