KOHIMA, MAY 17 : Dismayed over non-release of fund to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) that are implementing HIV Targeted Intervention (TI) programmes, the Network of Nagaland Drugs and AIDS Organisations (NNagaDAO) has launched its first phase of protest on Tuesday by closing down all the Drop-In Centres (DICs) across the state. The agitation, involving the shut-down of 53 DICs in all the 11 district headquarters and sub-divisions, will continue till Wednesday.
The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) are being blamed for the non-release of fund, for which their partner NGOs and CBOs implementing TI project are unable to pay the salaries of about a thousand staff in total, and necessary instrumentsand equipment for the key population are reportedly being bought on credit for the last six months to keep the program running. According to the NNagaDAO, the NGOs/CBOs have signed a MoU with NACO/NSACS as per World Bank guidelines and implemented programs as per the MoU of the Annual Action Plan 2015-16. Talking to Eastern Mirror today, NNagaDAO president Abou Mere said NACO has asked the state government to provide 20% of the total budget as state contribution to the HIV program, however, there seems to be no clarity of communication between the two.
The organization is of the view that if the state government had released the fund on time then the problem would not have mounted to where it was now. Against the backdrop of the state rating the highest in HIV prevalence among general population in the country (according to NACO report 2015), NNagaDAO maintains that it is critical to continue and sustain comprehensive efforts with un-interrupted funding in response to HIV and AIDS scenario, and increase the coverage of targeted interventions, treatment and care services.
The shutting down of DICs for two days may not seem much to the common man but, Mere explained, when intervention programme stops,it would impact on the key population or vulnerable groups who are under the programme. The NNagaDAO’s contention is that, unless the state government intervenes with all sincerity and demonstrate political will, the work which the NGOs and CBOs have done over the last decade will be lost and put at risk a larger epidemic.
Stating that HIV is no longer solely confined to the key population as NACO study has already laid down the evidence that Nagaland’s general population is vulnerable, he said it is only rational to support the TI programmes and stop the further spread of HIV.He also pointed out that the key population such as drug users are empowered with knowledge through the intervention programmes provided by the NGOs and CBOs working in the field of HIV and AIDS. He expressed hope the general population will realize that the key population and vulnerable groups who are often marginalized,are a part of the larger group of the society.