DIMAPUR, JULY 4 (MExN): Advisor for Sericulture & Cooperation, Azheto Zhimomi, has said that in the context of Nagaland state where majority are Christians; the Church is the right platform to create awareness and to meet the challenges of controlling, preventing and protecting citizens the dreaded disease AIDS.
Azheto who is also the local MLA of Dimapur –III assembly seat, in his address at the advocacy meeting on HIV here at Padumpukhuri Panchayat Hall on Wednesday, said fulfilling one’s spiritual wellbeing is very important but that it is also equally important look into one’s physical wellbeing and that of society as a whole. He said that church leaders and pastors have a vital role to play in creating awareness on HIV/AIDS and its prevention as people from all walks of life attend church and how the scourge of AIDS is threatening the very existence of human beings on this planet. Azheto said that the word AIDS is not only the young generation’s problem but it affects every age group and profession including the elderly persons.
The local MLA also appealed the churches to organize prayer sessions on prevention and control of AIDS at least once in every month. Further, Azheto said that the aims and objective of organizing such programme is to create awareness amongst the general public. He said Nagaland is the first state in India to launch a Legislators’ Forum on AIDS where all the 60 MLAs are contributing one Rs. 1 lakh each and work along with Nagaland AIDS Control Society to create awareness on AIDS throughout the districts
The advocacy programme organized by ‘Care Centre’ of Peoples’ Development Society (PDS), Padumpukhuri, and sponsored by Nagaland Legislator’s Forum on AIDS, was attended by local leaders including Village Councils, Village Development Board members, Gaon Buras, NGOs, Church leaders and pastors, youth leaders, women groups, grass root political leaders cutting across all party lines and public of Dimapur- 111 A/C.
Director, Care Centre Peoples’ Development Society, Kevi Z Stephen, in his welcome address also highlighted on the current AIDs scenario in the state and the treatment available in Government-run hospitals.
In the first session, resource person, Darshim Phom of DNP + (Dimapur Network who spoke on the topic “Stigma and discrimination: The challenges in the prevention, care and support.”
