The prestigious office of the Legislators’ Forum on AIDS, Nagaland situated within the complex of Nagaland Legislative Assembly carefully analysed the views and opinions of NNP+ and Kripa Foundation in response to the news item published in the local newspaper on 22 August 2012. The news reads – “AIDS is God’s curse”, said to have been spoken by Honourable MLA which was false and concocted as admitted by the SDIO Dimapur on 28 August 2012 and his apology on paper.
In this regard, office of the Legislators’ Forum on AIDS is saddened by such misunderstanding created resulting in throwing impolite and unhealthy remarks overwhelmed with emotions. It is understood plainly that it was wrongly quoted but the negative impact it has created is something irreversible and undesirable indeed.
The Legislators’ Forum on AIDS observes that there is lack of coordination and mutual respect among media personnel, NGOs and sponsoring organisations. This has necessitated LFA-Nagaland to explain how LFA functions and organizes advocacy programmes in different Assembly Constituencies and places both in urban and rural sectors with the support and participation of elected members. UNAIDS (India) has initiated this programme and formed Forum of Parliamentarians on AIDS (FPA) at national level and Legislators’ Forum on AIDS at state level so that MPs and MLAs are engaged in all public platforms to address issues relating to HIV and AIDS. This is a national policy particularly in India. Several useful materials have been developed to sensitize the elected members and prepare them to address the issues relevantly and contextually.
As LFA launches for advocacy programme, it ensures that NSACS officials and resource in all districts are ready for effective coordination and implementation because LFA has to work in partnership with Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and not in any way independently. Besides, LFA makes sure that all administrative heads such as DCs, CMOs, MSs, DAPCUs, ICTCs, ART Centres and DIPR-SDIOs are involved so that adequate coverage is achieved because it involves Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and MLAs across all party lines or affiliation. Surely HIV and AIDS does not play party politics though at times one may be mistaken.
Our Legislators are fully sensitized and they are well aware of what and how they should speak without showing uncontrolled emotions. They are more careful to avoid misleading others as politicians as they are used to do so.
We may request the media personnel who attend such important meetings to be more sensitive to educating people in a positive manner and not mislead the readers. In the present issue, it is SDIO Dimapur, compounded by Kripa Foundation and NNP+ Kohima who have promoted stigma and discrimination by their impulsive and irrational emotional outburst while LFA has made every effort to reduce stigma and discrimination by engaging different NGOs.
Lastly, all these NGOs are working in partnership with LFA and we give them support. Therefore, as the Coordinator of LFA, I am deeply struck by the reaction emitted for which I tender my apology to all the Honourable Legislators for such unexpected remarks and shame to the office of the prestigious LFA. Nevertheless, we will continue to look forward to your unceasing support and cooperation.
Having said this, on behalf of LFA, I may advise the reactive NGOs to tender apology to the Honourable MLA for their defamatory response, so that enabling environment is restored.
Dr. Vinito L. Chishi
State Programme Coordinator
