Zunheboto, March 3 (MExN): As part of playing key role in responding to the epidemic of HIV & AIDS for the past several years, ARK Foundation and Nagaland State Aids Control Society (NSACS) conducted a stakeholder sensitization meeting on HIV & AIDS on February 27 at Town Hall, Akuluto Town, Zunheboto.
Ketho Angami, President, ARK Foundation, elaborated about HIV prevalence and stated that Nagaland stands as the 2nd highest HIV prevalence rate in the country and 92% of HIV transmission is caused due to sexual route. He said that 31,152 cases of HIV were reported since 2006 and many have died of TB due to co-infection with HIV & AIDS. Calling for collaborative efforts, Angami encouraged stakeholders, CSOs, Churches, NGO, administration, and youth to address the issue and plan way forward to eliminate stigma and discrimination and strengthen advocacy among general population.
Dwelling on drug use and its co-relation to AIDS and TB, he raised concern about the rampant use of drugs and the causes of addiction and how it leads to injecting the drugs which will result in sharing of needles and syringes and can result in HIV & AIDS infection. Angami further urged the community not to penalize drug users but to address it as a health concern.
Hokishe Chopy, DPO, DAPCU, Zunheboto while speaking on overcoming stigma and discrimination to address HIV, stated that 431 have been reported with HIV in the district since the year 2003 till date i.e January, 2024. Among these detected cases, 72 deaths and 29 lost contact (lost to follow up) were reported. The District also further reported of 6 new HIV cases, among the pregnant mothers, during the period of April 2023 till January this year.
Atsungba Walling ADC, Akuluto, addressed HIV & AIDS and Stigma & discrimination and urged community and stakeholders to give more focus to adolescent groups and school-going children for more awareness programs in the coming days.
Khekavi Achumi, TI Project, Akuluto took a session on ‘Journey from drugs addiction to recovery.’ He shared personal experiences on addiction and how it affected his life in terms of family relations, society, financially, and how his life changed drastically after recovering from addiction. Achumi urged the youth to stay away from drugs.
Hosheto Awomi GB, Akuluto Town and Aghali Chishi, STH, Akuluto Town also spoke during the programme.
The programme was chaired by Pitolu Achumi, Akuluto Range Students Union, while the welcome address was delivered by Livika Chishi, Program Manager, TI Project, Akuluto, ARK Foundation.
