Dimapur, April 25 (MExN): Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Campaign, the first in India to be funded by District Innovated Fund was launched in Peren district by Senti Ao, Deputy Commissioner Peren in the presence of officials from NERO/ National Aids Control Organization (NACO) & Nagaland State Aids Control Society (NSACS), district administration, district NGOs, district medical program officers, medical officers, officers from different department, etc.
Senti Ao, while launching the campaign, encouraged the participants to create awareness among the rural populace about STI. “It is a communicable disease, but they are unaware of the fact as a result of which they are still prone to this threatening disease due to ignorance and negligence.” He also added that controlling spread of STI/HIV should not be considered as the sole responsibility of medical department, but every responsible citizen should take the initiative of creating awareness and identify the sex workers to provide them rehabilitation, counseling and treatment “as it has been identified as one of the main root of transmission”. Deputy Commissioner while extending best wishes for the campaign expressed his hopes that the rate of STI prevalence in the district will be cut down as a result of this campaign.
Dr. Rebecca, Regional Programme Advisor (RPA-TI), NERO/ NACO in her short speech, expressed her gratitude to Deputy Commissioner Peren for launching the campaign and also for providing the fund from the District Innovative Fund without which the launching of the campaign would not have been possible. While talking about relation of STI and HIV, she said, “When we talk about HIV it is almost synonymous with STI and therefore we need to refocus our priority in our community among the high risk group of people responsible for transmitting the disease as most of the STIs are treatable in case of early detection.” She further urged for the convergence of NACO-NRHM at the district level in order to make this campaign a successful one.
