Dimapur tops HIV positive list at 8514

Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 1  

As of March 2017 since January 1999, Nagaland has tested a total of 9, 41,473 HIV reported cases out of which 21, 381 have been tested positive.  

The figures were sourced from the Nagaland State Aids Control Society and presented by a member of the District Aids Prevention and Control Unit, Dimapur at Christian Higher Secondary School, Dimapur on the occasion of World Aids Day on Friday.  

Among the 11 districts, Dimapur tops the HIV positive list at 8514 as of April 2006 to March 2017 followed by Kohima and Tuensang at 2959 and 2588 respectively. During the same period, a total of 8, 67,999 cases were tested, where 17,589 were tested positive.  

It was informed that persons aged 25 to 34 topped the list of HIV positive cases.  

Further, as of April 2017 – September 2017 in Dimapur, 30 cases were tested positive between the age group of 25-34. Sexual route of transmission was found to constitute 94 % of the source of HIV infection.  

Meanwhile, guest speaker of the occasion, Dr K Vikato Kinimi, Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur told the gathering that one need not be scared of the disease if proper preventive measures are taken. He emphasized on extending love and care to the People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and also urged the patients to be responsible citizens. Dr. Vikato meanwhile also lamented that the CD4 machines in almost all the districts were not working properly.  

A female PLHIV who spoke on the plight of her community appealed for good condition CD4 machines and sufficient supply of drugs, as delay in intake of the medicines compromises the status of their health. She also spoke about the need to have a HIV viral load testing machine in Dimapur.  

MO, ART Plus Centre, Dimapur, Dr. Mulusen Jamir spoke on the overview of HIV and AIDS in Dimapur and Nagaland and the various service available.  

Representatives of the Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo Women Ministry and Rotary Club Dimapur also spoke at the programme expressing their commitment and solidarity towards PLHIV.  

The programme was attended by college students, transgenders, NGOs and church workers. The theme for 2017 World Aids Day was ‘Right to Health – My Health, My Right.’