‘Community ownership and response required to tackle HIV/AIDS’

Choir competition underway at Sumi Baptist Church, Niuland Town  during a HIV/AIDS awreness programme held on March 18.  (Morung Photo)
 
Dimapur, March 19 (MExN): A choir competition on HIV/AIDS was held amongst the Churches under Ghaspani I A/C on March 18, 2011 at Sumi Baptist Church (SBC), Nuiland Town. A press note issued by Ng. Phuba James, director/secretary, Women and Child Welfare Centre, Dimapur informed that the competition was organized to demonstrate MLA Hewoto Awomi’s commitment towards HIV/AIDS, Women and Child Welfare Centre, Dimapur in collaboration with Youth department, SBC, Niuland Town.
Speaking on the occasion, Hukhuli, ADC, Niuland said that, the government has invested a lot of money for HIV/AIDS and has trained almost every section of the society on HIV/AIDS, but it continues to be in our midst. She challenged the participants not to depend always on the government or NGOs but to do their bit to remove the virus from our society. She also encouraged all the Positive People to come put and avail the different services made available for them by the government and non-governmental organizations.
The note also mentioned that other speakers were Abino, LFA staff who introduced LFA, Nitoshe, ICTC supervisor who spoke on HIV/AIDS and its scenario in Nagaland, and Dimapur district. ‘Stigma and discrimination of PLHIV/A’, was shared by Penesa, member of DNP+ and Dr. Vinito Chishi, stage program coordinator, LFA-UNAIDS. Dr. Vinito Chishi, while addressing the gathering questioned the gathering as to why churchgoing people undertake risky behaviour, and asked for community ownership of the problem and community response to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS. He also said that, every MLA in Nagaland is contributing Rs. 1 lakh per year through LADF towards HIV/AIDS because it is also a developmental issue.
Other highlights of the programme were choir competition among Churches of different villages on the theme “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” wherein seven choir groups participated and the first second and third prizes were bagged by Niuland Deaconis, Shetoli and Hukali group, Niuland and Henito village choirs respectively. It was attended by more than 200 people including village leaders, church leaders and student leaders under Ghaspani I A/C.