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Adviser NUN Abou Mere, Convener Gwabinlo, and Ketho Angami pose for a photo with the awards.[/caption]
Kohima, Dec. 3: In recognition of its contribution towards the ‘high risk vulnerable group’, on the eve of World Aids Day, Nagaland Users’ Network (NUN) has been conferred with three awards instituted by India HIV/AIDS Alliance for the first time in an event held at Eros Hotel Nehru Place, New Delhi on November 30.
Since its inception in 1999 with motto ‘Unity, service & dignity,’ NUN was the first State level drug users’ network without any outside support. It aims to responds to issues that affect the lives of People who Use Drugs (PUD), ensuring the voice of the people affected is heard, and advocating for the health and human rights of PUD community.
The categories of awards were ‘Best Community Base Organisations (CBO) Award 2016,’ ‘Best Individual Leadership’ Award to Ketholelie Angami and ‘Best Individual Leadership’ nominee award to Khuchamo P Ezung.
The awards were received by Gwabinlo, convener NUN, from Dr. CV Dharma Rao, Joint Secretary of NACO India. The awards comprised of citation, memento and cash reward of Rs 51,000.
Talking with Eastern Mirror, Ketholelie Angami dedicated the prestigious award to all Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), NUN members and Kripa Foundation for their constant support and guidance.
He humbly said the awards were honourable to him and the whole team, adding it was a challenge for him and NUN to unwaveringly go ahead in its activism of advocacy and service delivery approach to the drugs users in the State and the country as well.
Ketho particularly thanked Kripa Foundation for its technical support and guidance to him since his drug using days and NUN since its inception till today.
Celebrating leadership across the country, in commemoration of World AIDS Day 2016, HIV/AIDS Alliance India, New Delhi, facilitated the awards to the change-makers and leaders whose pioneering work has contributed and enabled the robust HIV response specifically in the last 5 years during the National AIDS Control Programme Phase IV (NACP IV).
The award and recognition are given to individuals and organisation who or which represent Men who Have Sex with Men (MSM), Transgender Hijra (TGH), Sex Workers (SW), People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and young population communities across the HIV programmes in India.
It may be noted that NUN strength lies in its vast range of knowledge and skills on harm reduction, drug treatment, HIV, HCV, TB, overdose, advocacy, and community mobilisation and also advocacy on right to health issues.
NUN is a member of the Executive Member of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS), State Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC) and Technical working group of HIV/TB Committee under the NACO’s NACP IIII phase in the state. These committees are the policy discussion groups.
NUN is considered to be the strongest State level network in India by IDUF. It is affiliated with Indian Drug Users’ Forum (IDUF), Asian Network of People who Use Drugs (ANPUD), International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD).
NUN worked closely with NACO, NSACS, National and State Civil societies and CBOs.