Positive people encouraged to confess their status
Lipichem
Kiphire | August 4
“Repent and God will take care of you,” said C Kipili Sangtam, Chairman of NSMDC and DPDB Kiphire, during the district-level Advocacy on HIV and AIDS with the stakeholders here at the Hopongkyu Memorial hall on August 4. Addressing the gathering at the programme as chief guest, Sangtam said, “I am here not for advertisement or for fun, but I have concern for life therefore I am here with you twice in a span of two weeks for the same programme.”
“HIV/AIDS is not the only disease, but there is also some other disease that kills us. Therefore, as Christians we should confess and live so as to save those who are not infected with this disease,” he added. He further said, “As Nagas declared ‘Nagaland for Christ’, we should live accordingly, and in doing so it is the Christian duty to give counselling to those people who are living with HIV/AIDS so that they come out to make a bigger group to save our society.” He also challenged the ‘positive’ people to confess their status and promised to give any treatment available.
Calling upon the ‘positive people’, Sangtam said, “We are all master in our own field and you (positive) people are also master in your field. Therefore, you should come out in the open and save your other friends who are infected with it.”
Touching on the topic of development, Sangtam said, “Government is for the people and not for the party,” and called upon the people gathered to make use of the schemes and development activities available to them, and encouraged the youths present to make use of the electronic and print media so as to update themselves to face the future with confidence.
An HIV positive person while giving his testimony said, “I am privileged to be a ‘positive’ because all my friends have died and I am the only survivor.” He challenged the gathering saying that ‘positive people’ are also capable of doing anything if given the chance. He also requested the officials gathered to address the infrastructural problem faced in the district.
Earlier, Kipise Anar, NNP, gave a presentation on the HIV/AIDS scenario in the state as well as the country. Lithsaba, KNNp, welcomed the gathering and said the organisation was pleased by the concern, and encouraged by the presence, of the MLA. KTC chairman Dr. Sungit, CMO, and others present also spoke during the meeting that was chaired by Chemdila, social worker for KNNp.
