DIMAPUR, OCT 14 (MExN): The District AIDS Committee conducted a day-long HIV/AIDS & STIs awareness seminar at Tenning Village Baptist Church (LBA) on October 6 with Mikha Lomi, Deputy Commissioner, Peren as the Chief Guest. The seminar was jointly organized by the DAC Peren in collaboration with Tenning Village Baptist Church (LBA) and sponsored by DAC Peren.
Reiterating the importance of the Church in the fight against the dreaded HIV/AIDS, the DC said “Church is the best platform for creating awareness on HIV/AIDS” and urged upon the church leaders to tackle the menace seriously. While calling upon every one to work together to overcome the disease, he said that generation-gap would result if we fail to react positively. Also attributing drinks and drugs abuse and truck drivers as one of the sources of spreading the disease, he discouraged the youth especially the innocent village damsels from failing prey to any risky behavior. Moreover, the DC opined that there is more danger of HIV/AIDS fast spreading in rural and remote areas due to lack of adequate awareness and innocence of the people; and feared that given the thin population of the district HIV/AIDS cases could be alarmingly high in the district in proportion to the population. Further the DC encouraged the villagers to strive hard in the field of education as well as in other fields for faster development of the area. Delivering the keynote address, Albert, DAC Peren also highlighted on the social stigma and discrimination associated with the disease and called for eradication of any such attitude. He attributed eradication of social stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS, adequate awareness on the subject and behavioral change among the vulnerable groups in particular as the best weapon in fight against the disease. He said “so long as we fail to do away with these attitude, the disease will continue to spread silently and dangerously as none of us would be the wiser as to who carries the dreaded virus”.
The resource persons, Dr Keholi, MO CHC, Tening shared on the meaning of HIV/AIDS and STIs and their signs and symptoms, Dr Neiketuo Angami, Civil Surgeon, Peren dwelt on the route of transformation and prevention and on the no risk and myths, Albert spoke on the relationship between HIV/AIDS & STIs with drinks and drugs abuse-need for behavioral change and on the responsibility of the village councils and church leaders. The seminar was chaired by K Lailubo, Associate Pastor, TVBC and the invocation was said by Rev Huzabo, Pastor TVBC.
